Wednesday, August 26th 2020
Elon Musk to Show Working Neuralink Device This Friday
Elon Musk, via its Neuralink company, is set to reveal a working device this Friday. Neuralink Corporation was started back in 2016 with the mission to develop a BMI (Brain-Machine Interface), ultimately allowing for integration of a computer with the human mind. Work has gone on in relative secrecy until now, but the announcement from Elon Musk shows that the company has been diligently working behind closed doors - as one would expect for such a fundamental technology. The first step is for Neuralink to serve as a "treatment" of sorts for brain diseases and assorted conditions. The device works by implanting threads into the brain, for which Neuralink is developing a "sewing machine-like" device that can manipulate and insert 4 to 6 μm in width threads throughout a recipient's brain (note that patient wasn't the word used there).
The basis behind Neuralink's foundation, and its ultimate goal, is the belief for a need for human augmentation (sometimes referred to as transhumanism). This aims to keep up with the increasingly entrenched Dataist interpretation of humankind, and the advent of increasingly complex algorithms - and even AI - throughout the sphere of our lives. Apart from showing off a working Neuralink prototype, which will supposedly demonstrate the ability to "fire neurons in real time", the company is unveiling a second-generation robot for sewing the threads into the brain. The objective is to develop flexible threads that circumvent currently-employed rigid threads in BMI interfaces, which always run the risk of damaging the brain. Eventually, this surgery will be non-invasive - an objective example is the workings of LASIK eye surgery. Being a Musk-backed project, lofty claims and unrealistic deadlines are aplenty; the company first expected to start human trials by the end of this year. For now, no more information on that milestone has been shared.
In-between the brain disease treatment and the human augmentation starts and ends of the plans for this technology is the aim to allow Neuralink-implanted human beings to connect to a processing aide - be it a computer or a smartphone. Imagine offloading information to your chosen device - backing-up real-time inputs from your senses - or being able to run on-the-fly Google or database searches. Imagine perfect memory, or the ability to write TPU news articles only by thinking of the content, instead of having to find a comfortable computer to work on. Imagine the benefits - and dangers - of perfect recall for every memory you've ever had. What do you think? Scary, or inspiring?
Source:
The Verge
The basis behind Neuralink's foundation, and its ultimate goal, is the belief for a need for human augmentation (sometimes referred to as transhumanism). This aims to keep up with the increasingly entrenched Dataist interpretation of humankind, and the advent of increasingly complex algorithms - and even AI - throughout the sphere of our lives. Apart from showing off a working Neuralink prototype, which will supposedly demonstrate the ability to "fire neurons in real time", the company is unveiling a second-generation robot for sewing the threads into the brain. The objective is to develop flexible threads that circumvent currently-employed rigid threads in BMI interfaces, which always run the risk of damaging the brain. Eventually, this surgery will be non-invasive - an objective example is the workings of LASIK eye surgery. Being a Musk-backed project, lofty claims and unrealistic deadlines are aplenty; the company first expected to start human trials by the end of this year. For now, no more information on that milestone has been shared.
55 Comments on Elon Musk to Show Working Neuralink Device This Friday
They will need more than perfect memory to make a better human, and I forsee a lot of failure while they try.
I don't believe all people with such naturally good memories have troubled relationships. I think people like that only have good memory for certain negative moments in their relationships, which this technology could actually help to balance out by also helping you to remember more of the good parts as well.
Actually, I admit I'm one of those people. I can remember every moment someone else f'd up in detail but I can barely remember the nice situations or words that have been exchanged. I could use that kind of reminder from time to time. As Musk says, you could even relive the best situations and memories in your life like you're really there again with this technology. That could actually be amazing for people just to not forget these things and be more grounded in reality. It's the things that we remember, voluntarily or not, that form our world view. Many times it's not what you choose to remember but what you are conditioned to remember, and that is often negative for multiple reasons (neglect and abuse as a child comes to mind that leads to only bad memories and focusing on the bad side of things). So having the choice to remember more good memories even thought you would forget them without help, sounds really cool to me.
the joe rogan podcast was interesting but this guy did a much better job of asking pertinent questions and actually extracting some thought provoking information from elon rather than lighting up a joint and just joking around the whole time.:pimp:
Boring company supported by governments in need of fixing gridlock
Gigafactories getting massive funding from successful stunts like when Australia needed backup power fast and Elon delivered not only fast but with the highest quality in the world.
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-28/two-years-on-musk-s-big-battery-bet-is-paying-off-in-australia
Batteries smooth out power flows which can threaten network stability when they become volatile. The Tesla battery can respond to these frequency events much more quickly than coal or gas-fired generators, which have traditionally performed the role in Australia, and at a much lower cost, said Garth Heron, Neoen’s head of development in Australia.
Fuck wires in the brain.
So is Elon causing these injuries to begin with ?...