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Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk has developed the brain-computer interface (BCI). On Friday, Aug. 28, on a livestream Musk revealed the advances that he and his team have made. A brain-computer interface (BCI) is being touted as the link between artificial intelligence and humans. Neuralink proposes to have a BCI surgically installed by a tiny robot using “automated surgery” directly into the brain. In Musk’s update, he detailed the possible health benefits of Neuralink’s BCI. He described the process of receiving a BCI implant as a one-hour outpatient procedure that would not require general anesthesia. The device would be almost invisible and would show as a faint quarter-sized scar. The goal is to have a robot capable of doing 100% of the implant surgery. This should be safer and easier than “risking human error.” Musk claims that his primary reason to have the Livestream was to recruit employees for his break-through venture.

The live demonstration

Using three healthy pigs for demonstration purposes, Musk showed each one. The first pig had never had a BCI. The second pig had an implant for some time, then it was removed.  Gertrude the pig currently has an implant. She was finally coaxed from behind the curtain. The readout of her brain was shown on a screen behind her. The demonstration was to show that the procedure can be done safely and does not have negative health effects. 

Explaining the BCI

Once the BCI chip and its components are installed into the brain, users would be walking around with the next generation of computing. BCI has amazing possibilities for the future. It may help people with a variety of neurological and/or spine disorders. People who can’t speak, hear, see, or even walk, may regain some of those abilities with a BCI. Alzheimer’s, strokes, Parkinson’s, and dementia may be cured with a BCI. Muscle movement, auditory and sensory algorithms that work with the brain are in development to make the interface work in such a capacity.  But regardless of the possible health benefits, there is always are risks. And Neuralink founder Elon Musk has been one of the loudest advocates of regulation regarding the line between AI and humans. He’s often claimed that his involvement with the technology is to make sure that AI doesn’t end up ruling humans.

Why Aug. 28?

With a touch of irony (we hope) the Livestream may have been scheduled to coincide with a date in science fiction in the Terminator movie franchise. In "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" the date Aug. 29 had special significance. That was the date that “counted down” 23 years to the day that Skynet wipes out the human race. That was the day Skynet was created.