Elon Musk, addressing VivaTech via video link, revealed groundbreaking developments from his brain-computer interface venture, Neuralink. Following a demonstration of a patient controlling a computer cursor with their mind, Musk announced Neuralink’s ambitious next step: facilitating sight for the blind.
“Our upcoming product, Blindsight,” Musk detailed, “aims to provide vision to individuals who have lost their sight entirely or are visually impaired…by directly interfacing with the brain’s optical processing regions.” Musk highlighted the transformative potential of this technology, suggesting it could “potentially address a wide array of brain or spinal cord injuries.”
This revelation follows Neuralink’s recent FDA approval for its inaugural human trials. Their debut device, “Telepathy,” empowers users to command devices like phones and computers through thought alone, promising significant benefits for individuals with paralysis and related conditions.
Musk also addressed the ethical considerations surrounding brain-computer interfaces, particularly concerning artificial intelligence. He underscored the necessity of cultivating “truth-seeking” AI, pondering, “The primary hurdle for long-term AI alignment may be bandwidth…How rapidly can we communicate with our digital tertiary selves?”
