Elon Musk, the entrepreneur and founder of companies such as SpaceX and Tesla, in 2016 set his sights on a new venture: Neuralink. This company aims to develop technology that connects the human brain directly to computers, creating a “Neural Lace.” But what exactly is Neural Lace, and how could it change the world as we know it?

At its core, Neural Lace is a brain-computer interface that would allow humans to communicate with machines in real time. The idea is to create a mesh-like network of electrodes that are implanted into the brain, allowing for bidirectional communication between the brain and an external device. Essentially, Neural Lace would act as a seamless extension of the brain, enabling humans to control technology with their thoughts and receive feedback from computers.

The possibilities are endless. With Neural Lace, humans could vastly improve their cognitive abilities. For example, the ability to store and retrieve information could be greatly enhanced, making learning and memory recall faster and more efficient. Communication could also be revolutionized with Neural Lace, allowing for more seamless communication between individuals, regardless of language barriers or physical distance.

But it’s not just about cognitive abilities. Neural Lace could also have medical applications. For example, it could be used to treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, by delivering targeted stimulation to specific areas of the brain. Additionally, it could be used to restore movement to those who have suffered spinal cord injuries or other mobility impairments, by allowing for direct control of prosthetic limbs.

While the benefits of Neural Lace technology are vast, it’s important to acknowledge the legitimate concerns about its safety and ethical implications. One major concern is the potential for Neural Lace to be used to invade people’s privacy and control their thoughts. This could happen if the technology were to fall into the wrong hands, such as governments or corporations with malicious intent. The idea of having one’s thoughts monitored or manipulated without consent is certainly alarming, and it’s vitally important that measures are put in place to prevent this from happening. Let’s face it – algorithms already manipulate us and alter our decisions. Could you imagine this happening at a deeper level with our subconscious?

Another concern is the potential for Neural Lace to create a new kind of inequality between those who have access to the technology and those who do not. Given that Neural Lace technology is likely to be expensive and complex, it’s possible that initially, it will only be accessible to a select few, creating a new class of “superhumans” who are able to outperform others in a variety of ways. This could have significant social and economic implications, exacerbating existing inequalities and making it even more difficult for those without access to Neural Lace to compete in the job market or access education and healthcare.

Furthermore, the long-term effects of implanting electrodes into the brain are not yet fully understood, and there are legitimate concerns about the safety of the procedure. While Neuralink has demonstrated successful implantation of wireless electrodes in pigs, it remains to be seen whether the technology will be safe for humans. Additionally, there is the question of whether individuals will be willing to undergo brain surgery in order to receive the technology. Elon has stated that the operation would eventually be a simple walk-in centre, much like visiting an optician, and the implantation procedure would be a simple robotic process – nothing like what we think of currently as brain surgery.

In order for Neural Lace technology to be developed responsibly, it’s important that these concerns are addressed. This means ensuring that the technology is not used for nefarious purposes and that there are measures in place to protect individual privacy and autonomy. It also means working to ensure that the technology is accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status. Finally, it means conducting thorough safety testing and ensuring that individuals are fully informed about the risks and benefits of the procedure before making a decision about whether or not to undergo it.

Despite these concerns, Neuralink has already made significant progress in developing Neural Lace technology. In 2020, the company demonstrated its ability to implant wireless electrodes into the brains of pigs, showing that the technology can be successfully integrated into living organisms. While the technology is still in its early stages, the potential for Neural Lace to change the world as we know it is immense.

Ultimately, the potential benefits of Neural Lace technology are vast, but it’s vitally important that we proceed with caution and ensure that it is developed in a way that benefits all of humanity, not just a select few. The ethical implications of the technology are vast and we need to address all concerns about safety and inequality, it might be nieve of me to say this, but only then can we ensure that Neural Lace technology is a force for good in the world.