A HI-TECH chip that’s lodged into the brain could be implanted into a human for the first time next year, Elon Musk says.
The billionaire’s Neuralink firm has been working on a device that could allow those with physical disabilities to control a computer with their thoughts.
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But the Tesla founder also has his sights on bigger things, aiming to one day restore full-body functionality to quadriplegic sufferers.
Speaking to Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Conference, Musk said he is “cautiously optimistic”.
He boasted that his company’s standards for implanting the device are higher than what the US health and safety agency, the FDA, demands.
“I think we have a chance with Neuralink to restore full-body functionality to someone who has a spinal cord injury,” he said.
“I think we have a chance, and I emphasise a chance, to be able to allow someone who cannot walk or use their arms to be able to walk again naturally.
“I don’t want to raise hopes unreasonably, but I’m increasingly convinced that this could be done.”
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Earlier this year, the tech mogul showed off the technology in an adult macaque, who was able to control the paddles in a classic game of Pong using brain signals alone.
The monkey, named Pager, had brain-machine interface (BMI) chips placed in each side of his mind.
Founded in 2016, Neuralink is developing implantable brain chips that are inserted into regions of the mind that control movement.
Who is Elon Musk?
Here’s what you need to know…
Controversial billionaire Elon Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1971.
As a 12-year-old child he taught himself computer programming and sold the code of a video game to a PC magazine for $500 (£300).
At 17, he moved to Canada to study, before gaining two degrees in physics and business at the University of Pennsylvania.
At the age of 24 he moved to California to start a Ph.D. in applied physics and material science at Stanford University – but left the programme after just two days to pursue other projects.
Now 50, he is the founder and CEO of SpaceX, co-founder, CEO and product architect of Tesla Motors, co-founder and chairman of SolarCity, co-chairman of Opan AI, co-founder of Zip2 and founder of X.com, which merged with PayPal.
He’s also working on a human brain chip project called Neuralink.
Musk’s stated aim is to reduce global warming and save humans from extinction by setting up a colony on Mars.
The billionaire inventor is also working on the world’s largest lithium-ion battery to store renewable energy.
Eventually, the company wants to provide its implants to people to boost their intelligence. The aim is to create a full brain interface within 25 years.
Musk has previously claimed it will stop humans being outpaced by artificial intelligence, which he believes may one day turn against us.
Neuralink says it has already plugged its chips into the grey matter of rats and pigs.
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Brain chip maker Neuralink creates monkey that plays Pong with its MIND
It comes as Musk recently warned that his SpaceX firm faces bankruptcy, according to a leaked email.
Musk has plans to make his Starlink satellites “invisible to the naked eye”.
And, the Telsa boss, Nasa and Tom Cruise want ‘to shoot first movie in space’ using SpaceX rockets.
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