Elon Musk says Neuralink implanted wireless brain chip
https://bbc.co.uk/news/technology-68137046
Been asked to comment on this A LOT already. So, here's my thoughts on the matter
TL:DR 90% hype, 10% borrowed substance
/1
Issue 1
This entire story seems to be based on a single tweet from Musk
I mean, come on guys. If this were a genuine breakthrough, you should be hearing about it in all the credible outlets. One known BS merchant doing a tweet shouldn't be seen as confirmation of anything
/2
Even then, the story seems to focus on the 'successful implantation'? So, the chip hasn't done anything, it's just the recipient... isn't dead? Or heavily injured?
Great, but shouldn't that be the absolute bare minimum? Not something you triumphantly declare to millions?
/3
I mean the iPhone was revolutionary technology, but if Steve Jobs held a press conference to say "The first iPhone has been shipped to the store, the packaging is completely intact", that would have been a bit suspect
/4
There also seems to be confusion as to what *this* chip intends to do, and what Musk's 'plans' are
As in, *this* chip seems intended to restore movement to a paraplegic person? Details aren't exactly abundant (another reason to raise a sceptical eyebrow)
/5
Don't get me wrong, it's great if anyone with Musk's clout wants to tackle disabilities and the like. But you'll forgive me if I find such altruism a bit out of character.
Aside from that... this isn't something he's invented. This has been going on for ages.
/6
E.g. Swiss company used brain/tech interface approach to help a paralysed man walk again just last year
https://bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65689580
Not that I'm accusing Musk of seeing other people's achievements and saying "ACTUALLY, I DID THAT!" Perish the thought...
/7
Oh, then there's this
Absolute corporate speak for 'nothing has happened yet'.
Like if your editor asks for an update on how your book is going and you reply with "The document is active on the desktop and all the formatting options are in place"
/8
You can tell how little detail there is to this 'story' by how much of the articles about it are filled in with other announcement and related studies by someone else. Always a good sign that the main issue has a lot of substance, definitely.
/9
Inevitably, the reports also include Musk's 'plans' for these brain chips. He wants to make it so everyone can 'control their devices with their thoughts'.
This is one of those things that sounds cool in principle. But in practice... why would you bother?
/10
@Garwboy I'm not the only one who can imagine a scenario where you don't want be able control devices with mere thought. We all age, our brains change with time, and maybe there comes a point where we don't have the concentration, memory, attention span, or mental control we once did. Or maybe our degraded capacity is acute and temporary - I don't want to sneeze or have a vivid dream and accidentally turn on the oven or start my car and put it into gear.
Not everything needs to be automated and networked and dependent on Someone Else's Computers, no matter what our omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent betters like Elon Musk (PBUH) believe...
@Garwboy "so everyone can 'control their devices with their thoughts'."
But, don't I already control my devices with my thoughts?
