Elon Musk's Neuralink reveals new prototype V.2, says it's 'essential' for human survival

Last night, Neuralink, a neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk in 2016, unveiled its long-awaited V.2 prototype, a wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) that the company believes will revolutionize the way humans interact with computers.

The event, held at the company's Fremont, California headquarters, streamed live on YouTube, showcased the implant's progress and demonstrated the company's continued commitment to developing innovative technologies.

This new prototype is an upgrade from the previous version, which was announced with much fanfare at last year's event. The original Neuralink device garnered interest and excitement amid widespread concern over Musk's involvement. The CEO has repeatedly emphasized that the device is needed to combat impending AI threats and ultimately result in a merger between human consciousness and powerful computing.

Musk believes that BCIs have the potential to mitigate some of the risks associated with rapid advancement in AI technology by enabling humans to merge with AI and achieve a sort of symbiosis. "I should say that Neuralink is essential for humanity's survival," he said during the presentation.

The CEO also stressed that the device's primary purpose is to help remedy disabling conditions and restore lost sensory abilities. He argued that if Neuralink succeeded in helping people with disabilities, the technology would inevitably become mainstream and eventually displace smartphones. "I think it's a essential thing for humanity to become a multiform species and to have a positive influence on civilization," Musk said.

Some of the showcased features included a rechargeable battery, a sleeker design, and silicone electrodes that the company boasts will provide greater flexibility and better conformity to the unique geometry of each individual's brain. The device is also equipped with perks like adjustable frequencies to better detect neural activity and minimize interference.

According to a blog post from November 2022, the company has already begun conducting surgeries with the new prototype. The post also detailed improvements to the surgical robot designed to safely and efficiently implant the device into the brain.

Several patients with paralysis stemming from spinal cord injuries have already undergone implantation procedures, and the company claims the device has restored some sensory and motor function. These claims, however, have yet to be verified by independent researchers or subject to peer review.

Musk announced that the company plans to expand these surgeries to a larger number of patients to gather critical data for refining the technology. He also hinted at an upcoming announcement in 2023 about human trials.

Later in the Q&A segment of the event, Musk revealed that Neuralink's ultimate goal is to develop a fully implantable helmet that would allow the brain to connect wirelessly to a computer, resembling something out of a sci-fi movie.

To achieve this ambitious objective, the company is working on a new microfabrication process to develop ultra-high density electrodes. These advancements would enable the device to detect far weaker brain signals, akin to those involved in imagined speech.

Neuralink is also working on a new device for rodents, which will hopefully accelerate research and yield biological data to improve the technology further.

The event concluded with a live demonstration of the new device and overshadowed all the previous updates and announcements.

Though the company still has a long way to go before achieving full integration and widespread accessibility, last night's presentation showcased Neuralink's strides toward achieving its ambitious goals.

As the company continues to develop its technology, it will be interesting to see what developments arise in the near future and how close it gets to realizing its vision of a seamless merger between humans and computers.

It is important to remain cautious and critical of such unveilings, as they are often overshadowed by the sensationalism of the founder's reputation rather than the practical implications and potential limitations of the technology itself.