There is a new conjecture that Elon Musk is planning to invest in Synchron, the biggest rival of brain chip company Neuralink. Neuralink is a company co-founded by Elon Musk. The company has been manufacturing implantable brain chips for the last 6 years. Neuralink demonstrated how a Macaque monkey was able to control the cursor in Pong game. Neuralink announced, “Today we are pleased to reveal the Link’s capability to enable a macaque monkey, named Pager, to move a cursor on a computer screen with neural activity using a 1,024 electrode fully-implanted neural recording and data transmission device, termed the N1 Link. We have implanted the Link in the hand and arm areas of the motor cortex, a part of the brain that is involved in planning and executing movements. We placed Links bilaterally: one in the left motor cortex (which controls movements of the right side of the body) and another in the right motor cortex (which controls the left side of the body).” However, they are yet to do trials on humans. On the other hand, Synchron has already started human trials with their brain chips.
According to reports, Elon Musk has approached Synchron to discuss some potential investments. But it is unknown what kind of investment he is looking forward to. The companies have been approached for an answer, but none of them has opened their mouth yet. If rumors are to be believed, Musk approached Synchron CEO, after expressing his disappointment with the slow progress of Neuralink.
Neuralink talked about getting approval for human trials back in 2019. Till now, no progress has been done. But Synchron announced two months back, that it has implanted the brain computer interface in the motor cortex of human patients. The brain-machine interfaces have been implanted in patients with severe paralysis. According to medical reports, 4 people have been implanted a year back and they are doing fine, after 1 year. Synchron’s main aim is to aid people with limited mobility, and the ability to control smart devices like smartphones and computers with their minds. This will help them to perform certain digital tasks, like sending messages, emails and express their thoughts through digital communication.
