Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg says that while he and his company plan to develop Neuralink chips in the future, normal people won’t want to implant the devices in their brains anytime soon. But even with that caveat, the Facebook CEO still sees a future where people send messages to loved ones by twitching their wrists, and where brain-to-brain communication takes place on a massive scale as we transmit ideas through mental telepathy. In other words, as crazy as it sounds now, Neuralink’s technology might become commonplace in just 20 years.
Who is Elon Musk?
Elon Musk is an inventor, entrepreneur and founder of SpaceX, Tesla and Paypal. He is known for his visionary thinking and grand ambition. In recent years he has become more involved with electric cars, solar energy, super-fast trains (Hyperloop) and space travel. After founding his first company Zip2 at the age of 24, Musk moved on to help create PayPal for $165 million when he was just 30 years old. After that became one of the leading electronic payment companies in the world during its five-year run, Elon co-founded Tesla Motors and Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX). He continues to innovate new ideas including Hyperloop – a radical design that aims to propel people inside large tubes at high speeds while being pushed up into near vacuum conditions
What Is Neuralink?
Neuralink, a company led by Elon Musk and entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, is one of the newest entrants to the race for neural lace technology. It’s an ambitious goal: The company hopes to create a human brain-computer interface that would let humans communicate directly with artificial intelligence. In essence, it aims to make your phone interact directly with your brain–no need for typing or even talking.
According to one reporter who spoke with Zuckerberg in Seoul at the recently concluded 2018 UN Conference on Trade and Development summit, the Facebook CEO predicted that we’re still probably 10 years away from this happening–mostly because normal people won’t want their chips yet.
Why Do We Need Brain-Computer Interfaces?
The number of people interested in a Facebook-funded brain chip that would allow them to type by thinking is an estimated 10,000 people, says Jason Mickelson. With social media being so central to modern life, this technology could prove invaluable for those who have difficulty typing due to neurological issues or mobility impairment.
Brain-computer interfaces also have the potential to help save lives by alerting friends and family if someone suffers from a stroke or heart attack.
Though some might view these technologies as just another way for Facebook to expand its reach into our private lives, it’s important to consider how these inventions could make our world a better place and improve the quality of life for billions of people.
How Far Off Are We From Having BCIs?
Neuralink, a company founded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former DARPA Director Regina Dugan, wants to use brain implants to improve communication for people with disabilities. However, the idea of these chips is both controversial and polarizing. Some say that we’re on the verge of BCI mania while others think that we’re still decades away from seeing functional BCIs. Yet, one thing is clear: neural technologies will have an increasingly large impact on our lives as they develop into ever more ambitious forms.
An Argument for Why Humans Won’t Want to Have Brain-Computer Interfaces
There is no guarantee that humans will want to have their brains wired with computers. After all, we never really know what people will want until they actually try it. Brain-computer interfaces can be invasive and can cause some minor discomfort to the user. In order to transmit brain signals, these interfaces usually require one or more implanted electrodes (wires) either under the skin or at the surface of the skull. The wires are connected to a computer which may be remote or residing inside a nearby housing near the head (the skull). When electrical impulses are transmitted from brain cells and processed by electronic components, they create an interface through which a person can communicate with others.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Thinks That Normal People Probably Won’t Use Brain-Computer Interfaces Anytime Soon
Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t think that neuralink chips will be mainstream for a long time. Though he does think that neuralinks are inevitable and believes that they are the future of brain-to-brain communication. He believes that people will someday send texts to loved ones by using their thoughts and a Facebook Live-type interface. He also talked about his company’s push into AI and deep learning, with a hope to develop artificial intelligence to help people in all areas of life.
