Elon Musk has done a lot in his lifetime. From Tesla and Space X to a widely controversial purchase of Twitter (now X), he has proven the influence he has in technology. To me at least, things start to get more concerning when it involves the human body, especially the brain. Elon’s company since 2016, Neuralink, has done just that…and has already reached a second phase of human trials.
For those of you who don’t know, Neuralink is a company for a wireless chip (Telepathy) that is implanted into the human brain. It contains 64 threads that are 5mm deep, containing 1024 electrodes. These electrodes then communicate with the neurons and relay the feedback into a computer, which then moves the computer mouse. Pretty cool, right?
First Patient
The first patient, Noland Arbaugh, had been paralyzed from the shoulders down. For 8 years, he was unable to control any of his limbs. With this groundbreaking technology, Noland was able to play video games, chess, and even respond to emails. These are tasks that he could not have imagined doing since the paralysis, and he consistently praises the chip for the opportunity it has provided.
However, only weeks after the surgery, the threads started to detach from his brain. Now, 85% of the threads are detached, causing the effectiveness of the BCI chip to decrease significantly. Besides that, the surgery risks scarring the brain tissue, infection, and even neural damage.
Second Patient
Musk has already confirmed that the second surgery was complete. For the second patient, Neuralink says the threads will be 8 mm deep to account for thread detachment. Although it is an improvement, this change involves new risks. 8 mm is relatively deep into the brain, and may have a higher chance of interference or damage. Also, extending the length might not even target the problem. All it does is extend the length of time it takes for the threads to be detached.
The second patient has reportedly had 400 of the 1,024 electrodes functioning already, just days after the surgery was completed. This patient is in a similar situation to Noland, supposedly suffering paralysis. Although it is too early to tell, I would remain optimistic that with the necessary precautions and adjustments since the first trial, that this second patient will have an even more successful experience.
Concerns
Surgery
Neuralink at its core, groundbreaking as it is, is an invasive surgery on the brain. Such a surgery is bound to carry significant risks, as mentioned before. Not only that, but competitors such as Precision are proposing safer, non-intrusive methods that don’t involve threads being implanted into the brain.
Information
The more dystopian concern is that Neuralink (and other similar companies) can steal information from users. Imagine having all of your intrusive thoughts, embarrassing memories, and future plans plastered out on a screen for the government and large corporations. Since these chips have a direct line of access to your thoughts, it is near impossible to hide what you are thinking. It could also be hacked. You can find dystopian books that talk about exactly this.
Unless, of course, you get another surgery to remove the chip. Which is an ordeal in and of its own.
Long-Term Risks
Another concern is that we have no real data about the long-term effects of these chips on human health. It could cause another form of cancer, for all we know. Personally, I would say this is a concern that is inevitable and could be looked passed, given that any new treatment faces the same issue. It is, however, necessary for companies to act under reasonable measures. I would argue that Neuralink did not act under reasonable measures, given that their animal trials already showed thread detachment and they did not reveal that to their patient. Neuralink also killed 1,500 animals during this test. But, I digress.
Monkey plays Mind Pong on the computer with only its thoughts
What does this mean for future societies and healthcare?
Perhaps the most important question of them all. Done right, I would say Neuralink’s chip (and other BCI companies) has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Musk also claims that Neuralink could be used to regulate hormone levels and mood, which again, if used right, can help with mental illnesses such as depression.
Besides that, BCI chips could be used to bring back movement in individuals with paralysis or amputations (e.g. the first two patients so far). This could be done through controlling prosthetics or the skeleton.
It is important to acknowledge the immense potential that Neuralink possesses. It is equally important to acknowledge that “with great power comes great responsbility,” and if put in the wrong hands, havoc can ensue. It is therefore important for the team at Neuralink, as well as us in the public, to monitor the progress of Neuralink and identify any risks.
