Brain + Computer

Elon Musk will connect the human brain to machines

Nikolay Vorontsov, N+1

Elon Musk founded the company Neuralink, which develops neural interfaces for the treatment of diseases and, in the future, will work to improve brain performance by directly connecting the brain to a computer. This is reported by Engadget with reference to the Wall Street Journal (Elon Musk's Neuralink will plug AI into your brain).

To date, existing neural interfaces are able to help in performing some tasks, but this, most often, does not look much like a full-fledged "connection of the brain to machines", popular in science fiction. The data transfer rate of non-invasive interfaces is low and reaches one character per second, and the use of invasive interfaces is most often limited to research work in which it is a question of performing an applied task.

Neuralink is registered in California and will be engaged in medical research. According to the WSJ, the company plans to develop in the field of treatment of epilepsy, major depressive disorder and Parkinson's disease. At the same time, we are talking about both improving existing methods and developing neuroimplants. To date, the startup has already hired several scientists specializing in neurophysiology and engaged in developments in neurointerfaces.

In the long term, Elon Musk expects to create a high-speed neural interface that will allow people to connect directly to a computer without intermediate input/output means. Engadget notes that earlier Elon Musk has already said that, in his opinion, people in the future will need to find a way to improve brain performance at the expense of a computer in order to keep up with machines. The inventor believes that the first necessary technologies will appear in four to five years, but it is still far from the direct "connection of the brain to AI".

Today, there are successful examples of the use of neural interfaces in a variety of fields. For example, the neurointerface made it possible to establish communication with patients with the "locked person" syndrome. Also, the neurointerface already allows you to move paralyzed limbs with the help of an exoskeleton, control a bionic prosthesis and even walk a completely paralyzed person by controlling a neuromuscular stimulation device.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  28.03.2017