Elon Musk Unveils Plan for 2nd Neuralink Brain Implant Next Week
Elon Musk’s Neuralink, the company that’s leading the charge in merging human brains with AI, is about to have another big moment. During a livestream recently, Elon confirmed that Neuralink will be implanting its second human brain within the next week. This follows their first human trial earlier this year and is a big step forward for brain-computer interfaces (BCI).
What Neuralink’s Technology Means
Neuralink’s goal is to change the way we interact with machines by creating a direct link between the brain and external devices. Their first BCI, called Telepathy, has 64 ultra thin threads with 1,024 electrodes. These threads, thinner than a human hair, are inserted into the brain to record neural signals. This is big for people with severe neurological conditions to regain mobility and communication.
The First Human Trial: A Milestone
Earlier this year Neuralink did their first human trial with Noland Arbaugh, a 29 year old who became paralyzed from the shoulders down after an accident in 2016. This trial showed the potential of Neuralink’s BCI to restore function and improve the quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities.
Overcoming the Hurdles: Hardware Tweaks
Despite the success of the first trial, It ran into some issues with the initial hardware. Elon and Neuralink executives mentioned this during the livestream and said they will be refining the tech. The upcoming implant will address the hardware issues and further validate the safety and effectiveness of Neuralink’s BCI.
Regulatory Approval and Next Steps
Neuralink became the first BCI company (Elon Musk) to get approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercialization. This is a big deal and shows Neuralink is serious about safety and regulatory compliance so they can get their tech out to more people.
During the livestream, Elon said Neuralink will implant the chip in “high single digits” of people by the end of the year. We don’t have exact numbers yet but this is a big step forward and shows Neuralink is moving fast to get their tech to more people who need it.
Better Surgical Techniques for Better Results
Neuralink’s innovation doesn’t stop at the tech. They’re also working on surgical techniques. Dongjin “D.J.” Seo, a Neuralink executive, mentioned that brain tissues need time to anchor the threads post surgery. To enhance stability they’re implementing risk mitigation measures like skull sculpting and optimizing carbon dioxide levels in the patient’s blood.
Matthew MacDougall, Neuralink’s head of neurosurgery, explained they will be sculpting the skull intentionally. This will minimize the gaps under the implant and reduce the tension on the threads and improve the long term performance of the BCI.
Next Up: Neuralink’s Future
As Neuralink gets ready for their second human implant the whole scientific community is waiting to see the results and implications of this tech. Beyond mobility and function, Neuralink’s tech opens up new frontiers in neuroscience and human machine interaction.
Elon’s vision for Neuralink is not just innovation, it’s to redefine what’s possible in healthcare and tech integration. With each milestone Neuralink gets closer to a future where disabilities are overcome and human potential is expanded through neurotech.
End
Neuralink’s second brain implant is a big deal. Neuralink will keep innovating and empowering people and improving lives around the world. Stay tuned. Minds and machines are coming.