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Neuralink

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Neuralink Corp
Company typePrivate
IndustryBrain-computer interface
Neuroprosthetics
FoundedJuly 2016; 8 years ago (2016-07)[1]
Founder
[2][3]
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
,
United States
Key people
Jared Birchall (CEO)[4]
OwnerElon Musk
Number of employees
300 (2022) Edit this on Wikidata
Websiteneuralink.com

Neuralink is an American neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk and the founding team (Ben Rapoport, Dongjin Seo, Max Hodak, Paul Merolla, Philip Sabes, Tim Gardner, Tim Hanson, Vanessa Tolosa) reported to be developing implantable brain–computer interfaces (BCIs). The company's headquarters are in San Francisco;[5] it was started in 2016 and was first publicly reported in March 2017.[1][6] The trademark "Neuralink" was purchased from its previous owners in January 2017.[7]

Overview

In April 2017, a blog called Wait But Why reported that the company aims to make devices to treat serious brain diseases in the short-term, with the eventual goal of human enhancement, sometimes called transhumanism.[2][5][8] Musk said he got partly interested in the idea from a science fiction concept called "neural lace" that is part of the fictional universe in The Culture, a series of novels by Iain M. Banks.[8][9]

Musk defined the neuro lace as a "digital layer above the cortex" that it does not necessary imply extensive surgical insertion, but ideally as an implant through a vein or artery.[10] Musk explained that the long-term goal is to achieve "symbiosis with artificial intelligence",[11] which Musk perceives as an existential threat to humanity if it goes unchecked.[11][12] At present time, some neuroprosthetics can interpret brain signals and allow disabled people to control their prosthetic arms and legs. Musk aims to link that technology with implants that, instead of actuating movement, can interface at broadband speed with other types of external software and gadgets.[12]

As of 2018, the company "remained highly secretive about its work since its launch", although public records showed that it had sought to open an animal testing facility in San Francisco (but apparently had not opened one); it subsequently started to carry out research at UC Davis.[13]

As of 2018, Neuralink is headquartered in San Francisco's Mission District, sharing an office building with OpenAI, another company co-founded by Musk.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Winkler, Rolfe (March 27, 2017). "Elon Musk Launches Neuralink to Connect Brains With Computers". Wall Street Journal.
  2. ^ a b Urban, Tim (April 20, 2017). "Neuralink and the Brain's Magical Future". Wait But Why.
  3. ^ 5 Neuroscience Experts Weigh in on Elon Musk's Mysterious "Neural Lace" Company. (PDF) Eliza Strickland. Harvard University. 12 April 2017.
  4. ^ Elon Musk Breaks Twitter Silence on Secretive A.I.-Brain Firm Neuralink. Mike Brown, Inverse. 27 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b Masunaga, Samantha (April 21, 2017). "A quick guide to Elon Musk's new brain-implant company, Neuralink". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ Statt, Nick (March 27, 2017). "Elon Musk launches Neuralink, a venture to merge the human brain with AI". The Verge.
  7. ^ Meet the Guys Who Sold "Neuralink" to Elon Musk without Even Realizing It, April 4, 2017, MIT Technology Review
  8. ^ a b Newitz, Annalee (March 27, 2017). "Elon Musk is setting up a company that will link brains and computers". Ars Technica.
  9. ^ Cross, Tim (March 31, 2017). "The novelist who inspired Elon Musk". 1843 Magazine.
  10. ^ Elon Musk thinks we will have to use AI this way to avoid a catastrophic future. Robert Ferris, CNBC News. 31 January 2017.
  11. ^ a b Elon Musk believes AI could turn humans into an endangered species like the mountain gorilla. Isobel Asher Hamilton, Business Insider. 26 November 2018.
  12. ^ a b Everything you need to know about Neuralink: Elon Musk’s brainy new venture. Tyler Lacoma, Digital Trends. 7 November 2017.
  13. ^ a b Conger, Kate. "Elon Musk's Neuralink Sought to Open an Animal Testing Facility in San Francisco". Gizmodo. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
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