Written By Sarah Talukder
As the current society gets more technologically advanced and more people get accumulated to the wonders of tech and AI, the question of if AI will take over the world. It makes society wonder if a computer can control a human and their brain. Although this may sound crazy and something out of a sci-fi movie, does it hold any merit? Elon Musk’s company Neuralink is the most recent advancement in AI. Neuralink’s objective is to create technology that connects our brains directly to computers through brain computer interface. This would be through a surgical procedure of the chip into the cerebral cortex. The objective of BCIs is to treat brain-related conditions like paralysis or even enhance our cognitive abilities.Musk envisions a future where humans can communicate with machines just by thinking, opening up a whole new world of possibilities for how we interact with technology.Although the concept of Neuralink isn’t new, the developments in tech allowed Elon Musk(CEO of Neuralink) to develop nanotechnology capable of conducting electricity without any loss of energy over long distances. This is the perfect contender for brain implants that can transmit signals more efficiently. The brain implant also known as the N1 implant combines more technologies in a single device: It can target individual neurons, record from thousands of sites in the brain, and recharge its small battery wirelessly. Neuralink recently started conducting human trials and through X on Jan. 29, 2024, Elon musk announced that the first volunteer had received a Neuralink implant and is recovering well at the time being. Initial results show promising neuron spike detection. A question that has been raised to many is whether or not we as a civilization should gear towards an AI future and go beyond lengths mankind has never been before in which we install chips into our brain and become a “cyborg.” This blog will delve into the good, bad, and the ugly of Neuralink and the future to come.
The Pros
Humans have an improved ability to learn and remember new information.
According to https://www.presencesecure.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-neuralink-on-humans/ it claims,” Neuralink technology could help us become smarter by connecting our brains directly to computers, allowing us to access vast amounts of information at any time.” Through Neuralink we as humans can reach new levels of intelligence never thought of before and only through our thoughts can access and learn anything in the world. This could lead to a better understanding of the world around us. Humans could evolve to “cyborgs” or “superhumans” which may at first seem something out of a movie, may be our new exhilarating universe!
People with disabilities have a higher quality of life Neuralink will be able to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities.” Through the chips/BCI that will be implanted surgically in the brain, it will allow people who either paralysis, blindness, and deafness to accumulate better in society to only THINK in order to easily do tasks leisurely and accustomed to the world like everyone else with immense knowledge even with lacking of a body part or one of the sense.
Better Internet and other device connectivity
According to https://www.presencesecure.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-neuralink-on-humans/ it claims,” With Neuralink on board, we can expect better connectivity between devices and humans, which means we won’t have to worry about slow internet speeds or networks going down in remote areas.” Through Neuralink, we will be closer to AI more than ever before which means we will have access to information whenever we want by just our thoughts!
Mood Regulation
According to https://time.com/6590258/nueralink-brain-implant-chip-first-human/ it declares,”Musk has long maintained that Neuralink could be used to help individuals regulate their mood and hormones.” With Neuralink it can help with mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression which is at an all time high! It does this by directly interfacing with the brain to modulate neural activity. Through this, the implant could provide a more targeted and effective approach compared to traditional medications or therapies. If Neuralink can do this it means reduced healthcare costs for individuals, better productivity and performance, stronger communities, and overall many long-term benefits. Neuralink can make a future with no mental disorders and a happy world!
Medical Advancements Accorrding to https://techaeris.com/2023/05/27/neuralink-debating-the-pros-and-cons-of-future-tech/ it states,”It could enable precise control of prosthetic limbs, allowing amputees to regain natural motor skills. “ With Neuralink, people can have control of their life once again. It could advance medical science for the better with the N1 implant in your brain controlling what you think and feel, how you learn and remember, and the way you move and talk. It will better the lives of society and let people live in clarity!
The Bad and the Ugly
The Neuralink can strip your independence and create chaos
According to https://www.inverse.com/science/elon-musk-neuralink-ethical-issues it claims,”Given how the devices access users’ thoughts, there is also the possibility that their autonomy could be manipulated by third parties.” It is already transparent that with technology there are hackers who will exploit and sell your data. Now, imagine the hackers can read your mind and your personal and private thoughts. These thoughts which are the most sacred part of your identity which no one will ever know are now out for malicious third-parties to attack and possibly ruin your life. We lose autonomy and independence and also become an Orwellian society in which our minds get corrupted.
It Harms The Brain
Accoring to https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23899981/elon-musk-ai-neuralink-brain-computer-interface Ben Rapport says,”Ben Rapoport, a neurosurgeon who left Neuralink to found Precision Neuroscience, emphasized that any time you’ve got electrodes penetrating the brain, you’re doing some damage to brain tissue. And that’s unnecessary if your goal is helping paralyzed patients.”This shows that if you have the N1 implant the nanomaterials such as electrodes in your brain which the brain already is both squishy and soft. It is highly sensitive to damage and with electrodes in the N1 piercing your brain it will negatively impact the average person and even more to Elon’s target audience which is the disabled. It will therefore impact you and your cerebral Cortex.
It can possibly kill you and is against ethics and morality
According to https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/elon-musks-neuralink-could-set-32226049 it declares,”A lot of bioethicists are skeptical of highly invasive devices like Neuralink’s because of the risk they pose to patients."Through the harm the brain could cause it is reasonable to infer that putting the nanochip in this brain could cause death as the brain is an extremely important part of the human body. It is unethical to say that disabled patients will become a “cyborg” and many of their issues will go away with this incision of the chip in the cerebral cortex when many biotechnicians are against the probability of doing any good and actually impose horrible consequences. Neuralink imposes too many risks and with neuroscience still being researched after a millennium. It is too dire of a situation to go into a sci-fi future in which the complexities of the human brain with your thoughts, feelings, and innermost personal desires just to be another computer. This ethical dilemma believed by many will set neuroscience back decades!
The validity of Neuralink is questionable
According to https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/02/26/experts-criticize-elon-musks-neuralink-over-transparency-after-billionaire-says-first-brain-implant-works/?sh=133f63a44915 Marcello Ienca, a professor of ethics of AI and neuroscience at Technical University of Munich expresses concern that Neuralink’s work is being disseminated “through casual social media updates” rather than traditional outlets for science like peer reviewed publications, public repositories or even simple pre-prints. With the transparency of Neuralink’s human trials only being through vague tweets through “X”, it brings up questions on why this is more on the social media side which is known to be filled with fake and fabricated news. Is Neuralink as a company negligent on not showing their studies on scientifically valuable publications and websites or is this a manipulative ploy for the infamous Elon Musk to turn everyone into a robot due to his fascination with them and him expressing concern in a sci-fi future of AI taking over the world? Could he be lying about his successful human trials to persuade the public in pursuing Neuralink? All these questions could be debatable, but the underlying point is that Neuralink’s information only being announced vaguely in the public takes validity points off of Neuralink and discredits them.
Previous fatal endings in animals
Accoring to https://www.wired.com/story/neuralink-uc-davis-monkey-photos-videos-secret/ it claims,”An autopsy would later reveal that the mounting pressure inside her skull had deformed and ruptured her brain. A toxic adhesive around the Neuralink implant bolted to her skull had leaked internally.” In Neuralink’s animal trials there is a grotesque story of the N1 implant piercing and rupturing her brain due to the amount of pressure in the cerebral cortex. This was a violation of the US Animal Welfare Act. If this happened to the monkey and was kept under wraps to the public, who knows how this could affect humans. With human and monkey brain’s having similarities, it makes you think if the same macabre fate could happen to us. It has been proven that it may be an extreme and potentially life threatening surgery so it’s best if we as a public condemn Neuralink and what it is doing!
What should I think?
In conclusion, Neuralink represents a remarkable advancement in neuroscience with the potential to revolutionize various aspects of human life. However, before following through with Musk’s invention just because it’s trendy is not a good idea and precaution and research must be evaluated beforehand. There are many positives such as humans being able to get an improved ability to learn and remember new information, people with disabilities have a higher quality of life, better internet and other device connectivity, mood regulation, and medical advancements. However, there are also cons such as how it can strip your independence and freedom, it harms your brain, it can possibly kill you and is against ethics and morality, the validity of Neuralink is questionable, and animal trials going horribly wrong puts the company in controversy on whether this is the future and we will become superhumans and sci-fi becomes reality or this will kill many lives and Neuroscience takes 50 steps back and the world as we know it goes in shambles!
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