In an unprecedented milestone, Neuralink, the neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk, has successfully implanted the first wireless brain chip in a human being.
This breakthrough, called Telepathy, promises to revolutionize the way we interact with technology and opens the doors to a future where the barriers between the human brain and machines fade away.
The chip, designed to assist people with severe motor disabilities, was implanted with the assistance of an advanced surgical robot.
Using 64 ultra-thin threads, thinner than a human hair, the device is placed in the brain region responsible for movement intention.
This implant not only can record brain signals but also transmit them to an application that interprets and encodes these movements.
◍ Telepathy: More Than Just a Chip
The purpose of Telepathy goes beyond being a mere chip. According to Musk, it will enable users to “control phones or computers and, through them, almost any other device, simply by thought.”
The Telepathy chip acts as an intermediary between the brain and the outside world. By using microscopic threads implanted in key brain regions, it can capture neural signals with unprecedented accuracy and sensitivity.
This allows for a detailed interpretation of the user’s intentions, transforming thoughts into digital commands. Musk’s vision with Telepathy is to create an intuitive and effective brain-machine interface.
The idea is that users can interact with their phones, computers, and ultimately any connected device through thought.
This would not only make daily life easier but would be revolutionary for people with motor disabilities, offering them a new way to interact with the world.
Another notable feature of Telepathy is its power system. The chip is designed to be wirelessly recharged, making it more practical and less invasive for the user.
This functionality ensures that the device is not only advanced in terms of capability but also in its ease of use and long-term maintenance.
◍ FDA-Approved Research
After receiving approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test brain implants in humans in May of last year.
Neuralink began the search for volunteers, focusing on individuals with quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injuries or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
While this is only an initial stage in the process toward product commercialization, it marks a significant turning point at the intersection of technology and medicine.
◍ The Future of Neurotechnology
Neuralink is not alone in this race. Companies like Paradromics, Precision Neuroscience, and Synchron are also exploring similar technologies, with Synchron having already implanted its device in a patient in 2021.
Meanwhile, Blackrock Neurotech, with a longer history in this industry, implanted its first brain-computer interface in 2004.
This competition fosters innovation and accelerates the development of technologies that could transform the lives of millions.
In summary, this new breakthrough not only represents an impressive technical achievement but also highlights the limitless potential of neurotechnology to enhance human life.
As these technologies evolve, we may be witnessing the beginning of a new era in human interaction with machines and technology in general.