Rife with controversy
While Musk’s involvement alone is sufficient to garner widespread attention (and criticism), Neuralink’s endeavors provoke controversy for reasons beyond the persona of Musk, with several key factors at play.
One of these factors has been Neuralink’s testing practices, which have been widely scrutinized amidst allegations of animal cruelty. According to Reuters, over 1,500 animals have died in Neuralink’s labs since the company began experimenting on them in 2018. While the death of animal test subjects is not uncommon, the mortality rate has ostensibly been higher than usual due to an arduous development schedule. Neuralink employees have alleged that this timeline has led to more errors. Notably, a trial involving a seven-year-old monkey left the animal with “severe neurological defects” after leaked adhesive from the implant inflamed parts of its brain.
Another factor to consider is concerns regarding the technology itself. It is worth noting that Neuralink's efforts to secure FDA approval were far from straightforward, with Musk publicly claiming at least on four occasions since 2019 that the company was on the verge of a breakthrough, only to renege on his promises later.
The FDA’s hesitance to grant approval stems primarily from uncertainty about the long-term effects of brain implants like the N1. Specifically, there was and still is ambiguity regarding the risk of permanent brain damage resulting from prolonged exposure to the implant and its battery.
There were also concerns that the implant might be challenging to remove, that wires could shift to different areas of the brain, and that the chips could overheat. Li Xiaojian, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology), told 36Kr that when an electrode malfunctions, removing it from brain tissue is akin to inserting a needle into tofu and trying to extract it. The N1 implant employs 1,024 electrodes. Should any of these electrodes malfunction, removal or replacement would constitute a maneuver with significant risk of damaging the brain’s cortex.
On a broader level, ethical considerations about BCIs also come into play. Approaching a reality where collecting and deciphering brain signals is feasible creates concern over potential intruders eavesdropping on the human mind, and the possible risk of algorithms exerting control over the body, particularly in light of recent advancements in artificial intelligence.
All in your head
Over the years, Musk has been outspoken about Neuralink’s vision. The company’s initial goal is to establish facilities for surgical insertions of in-brain devices like the N1 implant, facilitating potential cures for neurological conditions such as obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia.
This first step would set the stage for more ambitious objectives, such as using BCIs to browse the internet or establishing telepathic communication between individuals. Ultimately, Neuralink envisions turning humans into cyborgs capable of defending against AI-powered sentient machines, with the prospects of consciousness transfer and even digital immortality not entirely ruled out. Whether any of these will eventually come to pass, however, remains uncertain.
It’s easy to become enthralled by Neuralink’s grand vision amidst the charisma of Musk. Nevertheless, judging by the trajectory of the broader industry, a gaping distance still exists between that dystopian future which Musk envisions and our current reality.
While neuroprosthetics, such as cochlear implants, have achieved varying degrees of success in helping the deaf regain their sense of hearing, progress in other facets of the industry has been notably sluggish.
Aside from Neuralink, research teams worldwide have spent years exploring the use of implants and devices like the N1 to treat conditions such as paralysis and depression. The key players in this field primarily remain in the earlier stages of development, typically ranging from Series A to B, indicating that commercialization is still some distance away. For example, Blackrock Neurotech, an industry veteran from the US, never managed to secure regulatory approval to commercialize its Utah Array, which it invented as far back as 1989.
Slow progress, however, does not equate to no progress. While companies like Neuralink are laying the groundwork, entities from other countries are also strengthening their capabilities in this field, with China poised to play a more prominent role in the coming years. In July 2017, Beijing announced a state-backed plan to achieve a first-mover advantage in the development of AI by 2030. The country is aiming to accomplish this by advancing research in three steps across the domains of neuroscience and AI, emphasizing three core areas. BCI is one of them.
This plan has since catalyzed the growth of the domestic industry, giving rise to notable players such as NeuroXess and Stairmed, each developing technologies seemingly comparable to Neuralink’s products.
With these developments in mind, one thing seems certain: given the impetus created by Musk and the emergence of other participants in the US, China, and other regions, advanced neurotechnology, including BCI devices like the N1 implant, is likely to materialize in the near future.
Stay woke.
|
