Neuralink: Elon Musk's new connected brain start-up
Radical 'medical research' firm could give human brains 'added artificial intelligence', reports say

Elon Musk is well-known for his futuristic technology firms, such as the Tesla all-electric car company and SpaceX rocket programme. Now the billionaire (pictured above) is set to launch his most radical project to date.
Neuralink is a new start-up company dedicated to linking the human brain with computers in the hope of improving the development of artificial intelligence. It will research ways of implanting electronic sensors within the brain that could be used for direct computing capabilities.
"Musk's vision comprises of a 'digital layer' built into the brain that'll merge computers with our own grey matter," says Alphr.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
According to the BBC, Neuralink, which has recently been registered as a "medical research" firm, will "develop so-called 'neural lace' technology which would implant tiny electrodes into the brain".
It adds "the technique could be used to improve memory or give humans added artificial intelligence."
Sources close to Musk told the Wall Street Journal he has "taken an active role setting up the California-based company and may play a significant leadership role".Wired says he is "tapping into an incredibly timely and topical technology that is already being worked on by researchers across the globe".
He appears to be "taking on the more seemingly realistic and profitable challenge of symptom control", the site adds, "before venturing into total man-machine brain mergers."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
However, a source claiming to be a founding member of the team told the WSJ the company was in an "embryonic" phase and that "plans are still in flux".
Musk himself confirmed the existence of Neuralink on his Twitter account this morning and said more details would be given "in about a week".
-
Deep thoughts: AI shows its math chops
Feature Google's Gemini is the first AI system to win gold at the International Mathematical Olympiad
-
The jobs most at risk from AI
The Explainer Sales and customer services are touted as some of the key jobs that will be replaced by AI
-
Why AI means it's more important than ever to check terms and conditions
In The Spotlight WeTransfer row over training AI models on user data shines spotlight on dangers of blindly clicking 'Accept'
-
Are AI lovers replacing humans?
Talking Points A third of Gen Z singles use tech as a 'romantic companion'
-
Palantir: The all-seeing tech giant
Feature Palantir's data-mining tools are used by spies and the military. Are they now being turned on Americans?
-
Grok brings to light wider AI antisemitism
In the Spotlight Google and OpenAI are among the other creators who have faced problems
-
Intellectual property: AI gains at creators' expense
Feature Two federal judges ruled that it is fair use for AI firms to use copyrighted media to train bots
-
Is AI killing the internet?
Talking Point AI-powered browsers and search engines are threatening the death of the open web