Neuralink: Elon Musk's new connected brain start-up

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.

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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."

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".