Inside Story

Will brain-computer interfaces transform human lives?

Elon Musk’s brain-chip Neuralink company is working on technology that could improve the lives of those with paralysis.

Imagine being able to control your smartphone with your mind or type using thought instead of fingers.

Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk says that could soon become a reality particularly for people with paralysis.

His brain-chip startup Neuralink has just enabled a monkey to play a video game by thinking.

They did it by embedding two chips on each side of the animal’s brain to record his mind activity.

As part of the experiment, the macaque was trained to move a joystick.

Data sent to the computer was then used to allow the monkey to control the stick just by thinking about moving its hand up or down.

So, what could be the downsides?

Presenter: Dareen Aboughaida

Guests:

Nick Ramsey – Professor in cognitive neuroscience at University of Utrecht

Ruta Liepiņa – assistant professor in digital legal studies at Maastricht University