Tesla Inc TSLA CEO Elon Musk said he is preparing a technology that will allow blind people to see through Neuralink, another tech company he founded. Using the power of cutting-edge science, blind people can find new possibilities.
“We have prepared the first visual augmentation technology and are waiting for regulatory approval,” CEO Musk said through his X. “It allows people who have completely lost their vision to see in high resolution over time.” The plan is to connect the electrode to the place in charge of vision in the brain, and then convert image information from external cameras into electrical signals and deliver them to the brain to regain sight.
Neuralink has been introducing a “brain implant” technology that plants small chips in the brain and connects electrodes to convert signals in the brain into computer language, allowing quadriplegic patients to write or play games on a computer. Starting with the first brain-computer interface chip (BCI) transplanted into the brain of Noland Arbo, a quadriplegic patient in 2024, 21 people who participated in the two-year clinical trial were implanted with BCI chips.
“Over the past two years, participants have been controlling the computer cursor just by thinking, exploring the web, posting on social networking services (SNS), or enjoying video games,” CEO Musk said. “The goal of the clinical trial is to check device performance and improve participants’ experience through data in various environments,” he added. “We want to continue the current record of ‘zero’ side effects.”
Neuralink, which is currently leading the field of brain implants, is planning to expand its business aggressively this year. In fact, CEO Musk told X earlier this year that he will start mass production of brain implant devices this year and simplify the surgical process to transform it into a fully automated surgical system.
Other tech companies are also paying attention to brain implant technology. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also founded BCI developer Mersey Labs, which decided on Monday (local time) to invest in Mersey Labs. Mersey Labs has received 252 million dollars from multiple investors including OpenAI.
JENNIFER KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
