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Elon Musk Announces First Human Neuralink Implant
Although details are scarce, the Neuralink co-founder says initial results look promising.
In a recent announcement on social media platform X, entrepreneur Elon Musk revealed a significant development in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Musk disclosed that Neuralink, a company he founded, has successfully administered a brain implant to its first human patient.
The achievement follows a series of delays, as Neuralink commenced patient recruitment for a clinical trial in the autumn, subsequent to securing approvals from both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a hospital ethics board.
The primary objective of Neuralink’s research involves the creation of a brain-computer interface, a groundbreaking device intended to establish a connection between the human brain and computer technology.
While Musk’s vision is a symbiotic relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence, the initial phase focuses on a more modest goal: To empower individuals with paralysis, particularly those suffering from quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), to regain control over a cursor or keyboard using their brain signals.
Eligible participants for the study must be at least 22 years old, and Neuralink expects its research to span a six-year duration.
Neuralink will employ a specialized surgical robot to precisely implant the device into the region of the brain responsible for controlling movement intention. This coin-sized implant is designed to capture and transmit neural signals wirelessly to an accompanying app, which can then decode them. The device uses 1,000 electrodes distributed across 64 threads, each finer than a human hair.
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Elon Musk’s recent post highlighted that the patient was in a state of recovery and indicated promising results in the detection of neuron spikes. However, it may take several months to assess whether the patient can effectively utilize the implant to control computers or other devices.
While the specifics of the Neuralink surgical procedure are presently limited to Musk’s single tweet, the development represents a significant milestone in the evolution of brain-computer interfaces, even if it falls short of the ambitious goal of merging humans with AI.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.