Technology Makes Life Easier

Machines are developing at a rapid pace. It was only in 1830 that Charles Babbage invented the first computer capable of doing complex calculations. Of course, humans have been using machines way before, but after the invention of the computer: the idea of machines was to be automated and perform complex tasks to completion. 

Artificial Intelligence

Now that computers have become an integral part of our lives, the exchange and process of information within is fast and complicated. After computers, the next focus in machines is Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI. AI is a new field in computer science that makes machines think without help. 

Here is the problem, if AI were to advance above humans in terms of intelligence and skills, then man would lag behind machines. Especially in this digital era, where information is more important, it's crucial to stay updated about vital knowledge. Brain chips are hybrid entities where chips and nerve cells establish a close physical interaction allowing the transfer of information in one or both directions.

Neuralink Corporation is a neurotechnology company that develops implantable brain-machine interfaces co-founded by Elon Musk. He is the founder, CEO, and Chief Engineer at SpaceX; angel investor, CEO, and Product Architect of Tesla, Inc.; founder of The Boring Company; and co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI. Neuralink was launched in 2016 and was first publicly reported in March 2017.

 Brain implants reactivate the dysfunctional parts of the brain after head injuries or to study brain activities, but Neuralink is heading to take it even further. As quoted by Musk in an intro of Neuralink, "It's kind of like Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires." 

The brain-computer interface is known as the link. Our brain consists of billions of neurons that send electrical signals as messages from one neuron to another in a chain reaction at high speeds that control every action in the body. 

According to Neuralink, the brain is similar to electrical wiring, and electrical signals sent by a chip work. The surgery to implant the chip is done by a surgical robot, with surgeons to assist. The robot implants the chip carefully: so, there is no bleeding or damage to the brain after the surgery.

The link has an all-day battery life and wireless charging and wirelessly connects to your phone via Bluetooth with a range of 5 to 10 meters. Elon also did a demo of the brain chip where he showed three pigs, one which didn't have the chip, the other was implanted with the chip but removed (this depicts that removal of the chip is safe), and the last one named Gertrude had the chip implanted for two months. 

The brain activity readings were in real-time and used to predict the movement of the pig and light up different regions in her brain. He also tested the chip on a monkey, recording brain activity while playing a video game.

The initial trials of the chip would be to use it as a medical device, such as to cure paraplegia (paralysis of the lower body), and later used to cure blindness or mental problems like depression, anxiety, and addiction. Elon also said that the chip can back up memories and restore them in a robot in the future.

The company Starlink, founded by Elon Musk: is an internet service provider that provides high speeds and low latency for high data rate activities, which were not possible in a satellite internet provider before. The mission of Starlink is to provide internet anywhere at any time. There are 2,200 working satellites of Starlink, and they plan to launch even more for better performance. 

Starlink also has implemented some features such as being invisible to the eye in the night sky to preserve the natural light of space, and at the end of its life, it will de-orbit or burn itself in the atmosphere to lower space debris. Starlink will also connect to Tesla products such as cars (self-driving cars would be more accurate if linked to the satellite), the Pi phone (satellite phone), and the link soon. Even though Starlink has started its ventures, it wouldn't be available to the public by 2025 or later.

Risks

To end this, AI taking over the world after gaining super-intelligence is still science fiction; it is not impossible as there is plenty of memory for AI to use, which makes up for its improvement, unlike a human being. The AI programmers should keep a backdoor or a safety switch to be safe when developing an AI model. Musk had also mentioned that AI could threaten humanity, and here is a quote, "The danger of AI is much greater than the danger of nuclear warheads."

 He also mentioned the chip should help keep up with the information. AI is a danger, but if kept under a limit, it can solve many more complex problems than a machine can. The brain chip is still developing and needs various tests, but that will be possible soon. As proved by Elon, nothing is impossible. He is one man owning different companies and also puts hard work into them to turn them into reality.

(Karki is a student)