Elon Musk: Second Neuralink Brain Implant Will Happen in About a Week

Neuralink Gears Up for Second Human Implant Amid Hopes for 'Super Powers'

Neuralink Corp., the brain-computer interface company led by Elon Musk, is preparing to implant its device into a second human patient within the next week. Musk revealed this during a video update session, expressing the company’s ambition to have several patients equipped with the device by the end of the year.

Expanding Capabilities

During an extensive discussion on Musk’s social platform X, key Neuralink executives elaborated on the present capabilities of their device, alongside its future potential. The team envisions significant advancements, such as the ability to repair paralysis and memory loss. They also highlighted procedures that will be modified in upcoming surgeries, informed by insights gleaned from their first human implantation involving an Arizona resident named Noland Arbaugh.

Musk underscored the company's overarching vision to mitigate the long-term risks posed by artificial intelligence. He suggested that Neuralink could play a crucial role in establishing a "closer symbiosis between human intelligence and digital intelligence," potentially even endowing individuals with "super powers." In the nearer term, the focus remains on aiding patients with brain and spinal injuries by allowing them to control devices like phones and computers using their minds.

Technical Adjustments and Enhancements

The device, named Telepathy, is a circular disk with electrode threads that connect directly to the brain tissue. One of the significant challenges encountered during the first surgery was the retraction of these electrode threads from the brain tissue. To address this, future surgeries will include measures such as eliminating a normal brain surgery air pocket that may have contributed to this problem. Additionally, the placement of the threads will be refined for more precise insertion along the folds of the brain and will be positioned to sit flush against the skull's contour.

Future Generations and Upgrades

Looking ahead, Neuralink plans to release newer models of the device. Musk hinted at the possibility of patients upgrading older versions of the implant to newer ones, akin to upgrading from an older iPhone model to the latest one. "You want the iPhone 15, not the iPhone 1," he quipped.

Animal Welfare Considerations

Addressing a contentious topic, Musk emphasized that Neuralink is committed to the well-being of the animals used in its research. The startup, which has faced criticism in the past over its treatment of laboratory animals, is keen to ensure their maximal welfare, according to Musk.

With these developments, Neuralink continues to push the boundaries of brain-computer interface technology, aspiring to not only enhance medical treatments but also explore uncharted territories in human-machine symbiosis.