Elon Musk Demonstrates Technology Linking Computer to Brain
2020-09-03
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1American billionaire Elon Musk has demonstrated a technology designed to use a computer chip inside the head to control the brain.
2During a video demonstration on Friday, Musk provided details about the system, called Neuralink.
3In addition to leading the Neuralink startup, Musk also heads electric carmaker Tesla and U.S. space company SpaceX.
4Musk says he hopes the technology can be used to treat neural disorders and help spinal injury victims regain body movement.
5Musk also believes the system could be used in the future to improve intelligence to help humans keep up with supercomputers and artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
6During the demonstration, Musk showed off a model of the Neuralink device.
7It is about 23 millimeters wide.
8It is designed to be implanted into a person's skull.
9Small wires would connect the device directly to the brain.
10The Neuralink system is currently being tested in pigs, with plans to seek government approval for human testing sometime in the future.
11Neuralink's head surgeon, Dr. Matthew MacDougall, said the company's first human tests would involve a small number of people.
12The tests would be aimed at treating individuals suffering from paralysis - a condition that makes someone unable to move or feel all or part of their body.
13During the demonstration, Musk showed off a pig named Gertrude.
14He explained that Gertrude had a Neuralink implant inside its head.
15The device is meant to record nerve activity in the pig's nose and mouth.
16Musk said the company had three pigs, each with two implants.
17He described the animals as "healthy, happy and indistinguishable from a normal pig."
18Musk said the company was able to predict with "high accuracy" a pig's leg movement on a running machine using data from the implant.
19Musk used the event to invite engineers and other experts to join the company in developing the technology.
20He also urged people to develop their own devices and bring them to Neuralink.
21"You don't need to have brain experience," Musk noted.
22Those skills can be learned on the job, he said.
23Linking a brain directly to electronics is not new.
24Doctors implant electrodes in brains to deliver signals to treat conditions such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and pain.
25In experiments, implanted sensors have let paralyzed people use brain signals to operate computers and move robotic arms.
26In 2016, researchers reported that a man regained some movement in his own hand with a brain implant.
27Musk's Neuralink hopes to one day offer operations to improve brain performance, the Wall Street Journal reported when the company launched.
28Musk noted that Neuralink first wants to use the device on people with severe spinal cord injuries to help them talk and move using their brain waves.
29He said he is hopeful that, in the long term, those people could regain "full-body motion."
30Members of the Neuralink team said they also would like to see the technology permitting the uploading of memories for later use.
31"Yes, I think in the future you will be able to save and replay memories," Musk said.
32Neuroscientists not linked to the company said the presentation suggested Neuralink had made great progress with the technology.
33However, they warned that many more studies will be needed to test the long-term success of such devices.
34I'm Bryan Lynn.
1American billionaire Elon Musk has demonstrated a technology designed to use a computer chip inside the head to control the brain. 2During a video demonstration on Friday, Musk provided details about the system, called Neuralink. In addition to leading the Neuralink startup, Musk also heads electric carmaker Tesla and U.S. space company SpaceX. 3Musk says he hopes the technology can be used to treat neural disorders and help spinal injury victims regain body movement. Musk also believes the system could be used in the future to improve intelligence to help humans keep up with supercomputers and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. 4During the demonstration, Musk showed off a model of the Neuralink device. It is about 23 millimeters wide. It is designed to be implanted into a person's skull. Small wires would connect the device directly to the brain. 5The Neuralink system is currently being tested in pigs, with plans to seek government approval for human testing sometime in the future. 6Neuralink's head surgeon, Dr. Matthew MacDougall, said the company's first human tests would involve a small number of people. The tests would be aimed at treating individuals suffering from paralysis - a condition that makes someone unable to move or feel all or part of their body. 7During the demonstration, Musk showed off a pig named Gertrude. He explained that Gertrude had a Neuralink implant inside its head. The device is meant to record nerve activity in the pig's nose and mouth. 8Musk said the company had three pigs, each with two implants. He described the animals as "healthy, happy and indistinguishable from a normal pig." Musk said the company was able to predict with "high accuracy" a pig's leg movement on a running machine using data from the implant. 9Musk used the event to invite engineers and other experts to join the company in developing the technology. He also urged people to develop their own devices and bring them to Neuralink. "You don't need to have brain experience," Musk noted. Those skills can be learned on the job, he said. 10Linking a brain directly to electronics is not new. Doctors implant electrodes in brains to deliver signals to treat conditions such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and pain. In experiments, implanted sensors have let paralyzed people use brain signals to operate computers and move robotic arms. In 2016, researchers reported that a man regained some movement in his own hand with a brain implant. 11Musk's Neuralink hopes to one day offer operations to improve brain performance, the Wall Street Journal reported when the company launched. 12Musk noted that Neuralink first wants to use the device on people with severe spinal cord injuries to help them talk and move using their brain waves. He said he is hopeful that, in the long term, those people could regain "full-body motion." 13Members of the Neuralink team said they also would like to see the technology permitting the uploading of memories for later use. "Yes, I think in the future you will be able to save and replay memories," Musk said. 14Neuroscientists not linked to the company said the presentation suggested Neuralink had made great progress with the technology. However, they warned that many more studies will be needed to test the long-term success of such devices. 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 17We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 18_______________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20chip - n. an electronic device that contains many circuits used in computers 21artificial intelligence - n. the power of a machine to copy intelligent human behavior 22implant - v. to place something into someone's body in a medical operation 23surgeon - n. a doctor who performs medical operations 24indistinguishable - adj. impossible to see or hear as different or separate 25accuracy - n. how correct or exact something is