In the future, humans are expected to control humanoid robots directly through brain-machine interfaces.
On June 27th local time, Elon Musk’s company, Neuralink, released a one-hour video showcasing their latest research findings and product development directions.
In the video, Neuralink announced detailed development plans for the coming years: by the fourth quarter of 2025, Neuralink plans to implant devices in the speech cortex, aiming to directly decode silent “intent speech.”
By 2026, the number of electrodes implanted will increase to 3,000, with the first participant in the “Blindsight” project joining. This project uses cameras to capture images and converts them into electrical signals to stimulate the visual cortex, helping blind individuals regain sight.
By 2027, the number of electrodes will further increase to 10,000, achieving multi-device implantation, such as simultaneously implanting in the motor, speech, and visual cortices.
By 2028, the number of electrodes will exceed 25,000, reaching deeper brain regions, used for treating mental disorders, neuropathic pain, and beginning to explore deep integration with AI. Neuralink believes that if successful, by 2028, perhaps all humans could connect with AI, turning into robots.
Neuralink’s ultimate goal is to build a “brain-machine interface,” which can write information to any part of the brain, enabling high-bandwidth connections between biological brains and external machines. These can be achieved through fully automated surgery, available 24/7.
Neuralink hopes to solve all known neurological diseases through implanting devices with hundreds of thousands or even millions of channels, potentially unlocking the full potential of human brains and ushering in a new era.
Currently, Neuralink’s three products each have their own focus: “Telepathy” targets patients with motor disabilities such as spinal cord injuries and strokes, using high-channel devices to allow them to control computers and robotic arms with their thoughts, regaining control over their lives; “Blindsight” aims to assist visually impaired individuals by transmitting information from the visual cortex through high-channel technology, aiding in the restoration of visual perception; “Deep” neuromodulation products are designed for patients with neurological disorders, mental health issues, and neuropathic pain, whereby electrodes are inserted into various brain regions to modulate neurons, enhancing treatment efficacy and quality of life.
It has been reported that Neuralink has already enrolled seven subjects, including four spinal cord injury patients and three amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. These subjects are frequently using the relevant equipment, with data showing an average weekly usage time of about 50 hours, peaking at more than 100 hours.
Notably, Alex, a spinal cord injury patient, will also connect with Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus to perform more complex operations in the future. Musk mentioned that people might one day be able to fully control Optimus’s body through Neuralink.
Neuralink was established in 2016, with its main research direction being brain-machine interfaces. By developing a device capable of being implanted in the brain, it aims to achieve “human brain interaction with machines.”
By the end of 2023, Neuralink announced the completion of the world’s first human brain-machine interface implantation trial. The chip, named “Telepathy,” is the size of a coin and requires opening the skull before inserting 64 electrodes as fine as hair into the brain’s motor cortex to receive neural signals.
On June 2nd, local time, Neuralink announced that it had raised $650 million in its latest round of financing. Following the previous round of funding, Neuralink’s valuation had reached $9 billion. With this latest round of financing, the company’s valuation is expected to surpass $1 billion.