Neuralink brain implants are starting human trials. After a controversial few years of development — including animal cruelty cases — the Elon Musk backed brain chips could be approaching release.
As always, Musk has often hyperbolised the use cases of Neuralink. The current generation of brain chips are designed to let disabled individuals interface with computers in order to talk. However, Musk claims that, one day, the chips will merge humanity with AI.
With human trials starting in the next six months, Musk is attempting to sell the technology to the general public. In his latest attempt, the billionaire claimed that he will be installing the brain chip in his own head.
During a company presentation, Elon Musk told Neuralink employees that human trials are starting in the next six months. The CEO also informed employees that the technology needs to be perfect before implanting humans.
“We want to be extremely careful and certain that it will work well before putting a device into a human,” Musk said, according to Reuters.
Musk presented his Neuralink speech at the company’s headquarters in Texas. Available only to select guests and employees, Elon Musk spoke for three hours regarding the technology’s future.
At the time of writing, Neuralink brain implants are behind schedule. Nevertheless, there is still hope that the technology will be an essential accessibility tool for those who cannot normally engage with computers.
However, Neuralink is still far, far away from the future that Elon Musk wants it to be. The brain tech is far from combining the human mind with artificial intelligence; its purpose is currently to just use a computer. While revolutionary for disabled people, it’s not a product for those who are not physically restricted.
With this in mind, Musk’s pitch that he will be receiving the Neuralink implant doesn’t make much sense. While it would be a great proof of belief in the product, it’s not a product that would help the CEO at all.
Even when the product is ready for humans, there’s still a large number of boundaries the chips need to pass to become commercially available. Furthermore, with scientists already worried for the future of the technology, it may never become a real product.