Neuralink is founded in 2016, and is backed by Elon Musk and has 400 employees. It works in the field of brain-computer interface ( BCI). It is a neurotechnology company. A communication pathway is created to decode the activity of the brain. The same is relayed to a digital or electronic device to execute certain functions. In other words, Neuralink decodes some brain activity and connects signals to the computer.

Neuralink’s computer micro chip can be attached to the surface of the brain. It is 4-6 nanometers wide. The attachment is done by a robotic device. The chip implant has 1024 electrodes distributed across 64 threads, where each thread is finer than human hair. Manually these cannot be inserted into the brain and hence the robotic device to facilitate the implantation.

The threads are so fine so that they do not damage the physiology of the user. The surgical robot inserts the threads at the exact location. Robot’s head has five cameras, and optics for an optical coherence tomography (OCT). The three axis linear motion is used to position the head and the needle.

A paralytic could use the interface to manipulate the physical environment. In addition, the person will be able to write and communicate. It is indeed a breakthrough.

Other neurotech companies make products that sit outside the brain’s surface or are even detachable. Neuralink’s approach is more invasive. The other key difference is that of the bandwidth — N1’s is several times higher than most rival products.

The end use for other neurotech companies is the addressing to neurological pathologies. Nuralink aims to enhance human functions with its implants.

Since FDA has approved clinical trials for Nuralink, the company intends to do the trials in the next six months. The trial participants could be those suffering from paralysis, blindness, deafness and speech impairment.

There is a fear that these brain-machine interface will be expensive and only the well-to-do will afford them.

The chips have already been tested on animals (monkeys). The company will have to test the chips on human beings till it performs satisfactorily over a long period of time.