Fitbit in your skull! 10 things you should know about Neuralink, Elon Musk’s Brain-Computer firm

tech.hindustantimes.com:

Yesterday, September 20, was an important day for Elon Musk cofounded Neuralink, a neurotechnology company developing implantable brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), as it received approval from an independent review board to begin recruiting for its first human trials. The company is currently focused on curing a disease called quadriplegia (paralysis to all four limbs) using brain implants. The company has been in the news for both its remarkable innovation as well as criticisms of impossible-sounding claims. If you are trying to find out about the company and its achievements so far, read on.

1. Neuralink was founded in 2016 by Elon Musk and a founding team of seven scientists and engineers. The company's aim was to build a direct communication channel between the brain and computers.

2. As per reports, Neuralink is building a 4mm-square chipset, called N1, which is meant to be implanted into the inside of the skull. The chip has extremely thin wires attached to it that reach into the brain. The wires can receive and detect brain signals that are relayed between neurons, and they can generate their own impulse as well, which imitates that of the neurons. According to the company, the N1 chip can connect with 1000 different brain cells. A patient can have up to 10 chips implanted, the company claims.

3. These chips will also connect wirelessly to a wearable device that is hooked to the patient's ear. This device looks like a hearing aid and contains Bluetooth functionality. While the company claims that the earliest chips will be implanted via traditional neurosurgery, eventually, it will be replaced with a minor painless procedure that will be conducted by a robot surgeon. It is not known if the company is working on that.