Brain Computer Interface

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) record neural signals from the brain and translate them into digital commands. Cochlear implants (providing hearing) and deep brain stimulators (treating Parkinson's disease and depression) are established medical BCIs. Neuralink (Elon Musk, founded 2016) aims for a general-purpose high-bandwidth BCI — their N1 chip (1024 electrodes) was first implanted in a human in January 2024. The first human Neuralink patient (quadriplegic, January 2024) controlled a computer cursor with thought — enabling browsing, typing, and communication faster than with his previous eye-tracking technology. Academic BCIs (BrainGate consortium) have allowed paralyzed patients to type at 40 words per minute and control robotic arms. The long-term vision: treating neurological diseases (epilepsy, depression, blindness, paralysis), augmenting human cognition, and eventually enabling thought-to-digital communication.