Musk has a porky plan to eliminate brain diseases
BILLIONAIRE inventor Elon Musk has implanted a computerchip in the brain of a pig in a move that he hopes will one day lead to cures for dementia or paralysis.
Introducing the world to ‘Gertrude’ – immediately dubbed ‘Cypork’ – Musk said the longterm goal for the ‘Link’ implant was ‘to achieve human symbiosis with artificial intelligence’.
The tycoon has already turned Tesla into the world’s most famous electronic car company and his private SpaceX rocket recently took fee-paying astronauts to the International Space Station.
The 49-year-old, who has invested $100m in start-up ‘brain tech’ firm Neuralink, described the implant, which will build a digital link between the brain and a computer, as ‘like a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires’.
As Gertrude ate and walked during the presentation, her brain activity showed up on a computer tracking her brain neurons. The chip was fitted through a small hole in the skull behind the ear.
Pointing to the animal, Musk explained that ‘Link’ can ‘see’ brain signals connected to muscle movements and it is hoped will eventually be able to ‘overwrite’ malfunctioning brain cells to help those with debilitating illnesses ‘rewire’ themselves.
Musk is seeking permission to start implanting ‘Link’ into humans and aims to sell the device for around $1,000 once it has been approved. As well as helping to stimulate brain cells damaged by illness or injury, he believes people will eventually be able to control computers and other devices simply through brain signals. ‘You can solve everything from memory loss to hearing loss and blindness,’ he said. ‘One of the applications could be to summon your selfdriving car with a thought.’
‘In the future you will be able to save and replay memories. You could basically store your memories as backup and restore the memories. You could potentially download them into a new body,’ he said.
One critic asked, sarcastically: ‘What could go wrong? Psychosis, mood swings, memory loss, dependency on a machine for any intelligent thought?’
Sid Kouider who runs NextMind, a Neuralink competitor, said: ‘The safety and health risks of invasive implants include infection and inflammation.’
‘Cypork’ is a reference to ‘Cyborg’, a half-man, half-machine character introduced by DC comics in the 80s.