Elon Musk has launched another new company, Neuralink, which focuses on developing the capabilities of the brain through technological augmentation so that humans can one day keep up with artificial intelligence.
According to TechCrunch, the company has been in the works for a while, with Musk talking about creating the technology at last year’s Code Conference. He shared how he wanted to develop a “neural lace” that would be surgically connected to a human brain and give a person the ability to connect with a computer without having to use a keyboard, mouse or trackpad. He even tweeted that he made progress on his own study of the technology.
While he’s already a busy man, Musk believes AI could have a huge impact on humanity as a whole. Initially, Neuralink will explore how brain interfaces can relieve symptoms of chronic and dangerous medical conditions, such as epilepsy, severe depressive disorder and Parkinson’s. That research could help Neuralink move onto its next phase, with established science for easier approval for human use.
And it’s worth noting that Musk’s other two companies, SpaceX and Tesla, both started off in the same way, with products that went on to help create bigger and more ambitious designs.