Elon Musk's neuroscience startup Neuralink has revealed the "dramatically simplified" design for an implant that aims to create brain-to-machine interfaces, alongside the robot that inserts it and several pigs that have the device installed.
Musk shared updates of the implant, which Neuralink is developing to connect human brains with computer interfaces via artificial intelligence, in an online presentation last week.
In the presentation, the entrepreneur and Tesla founder unveiled the new design of the chip, as well as the full-scale surgical robot and a group of pig test subjects.
The Neuralink has been simplified from a device behind the ear to one on top of the skull
Musk explained that over the past year the company has "dramatically simplified" the wearable device. The previous design consisted of a bean-shaped device that would sit behind the ear. "It was complex, and you still wouldn't look totally normal; you would have a thing behind your ear," he said about the old design. "So we've simplified this to something that is about the size of a large coin, and it goes in your skull."
The in-brain device could enable humans with neurological conditions to control technology, such as phones or computers, with their thoughts.
Musk also claims to be able to solve neurological disorders from memory, hearing loss and blindness to paralysis, depression and brain damage.
The coin-sized chip would enable humans to control technology wi...