Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain implant has received FDA approval for human trials. The coin-sized device is designed to be implanted in the skull using ultra-thin wires that connect directly into the brain. The first two applications in humans would be to attempt to restore vision and try to help people with little or no ability to operate their muscles rapidly use digital devices.
Aside from medical uses, the Neuralink implant could one day be used to create half-human, half-robot cyborgs. In other words, Elon Musk wants to be able to surpass able-bodied human performance with their technology. A monkey with the implant was able to achieve 65% and 88% of the median Neuralinker using a mouse during a precision cursor control test.
We’re confident there are no physical limitations to enabling full-body functionality. As miraculous as it may sound, we’re confident that it is possible to restore full-body functionality to someone who has a severed spinal cord. We are all already cyborgs in a way, in that your phone and your computer are extensions of yourself,” said Musk.
Source: Techeblog
