INVASIVE: Would you let this man put a Neuralink implant in your brain?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given approval to Elon Musk‘s Neuralink Corp to begin human clinical trials.
Neuralink is meant to help those with paralysis or traumatic brain injuries communicate and control a computer using only their thoughts.
Musk has also predicted that the device could eventually “enable humankind” to keep up with advances being made by artificial intelligence (AI).
“This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people,” Neuralink tweeted on Thursday.
Musk’s 2016 startup initially drew controversy after animal rights groups raised red flags over the company’s testing on primates, so he must be pretty psyched they can mistreat humans now instead.
Neuralink is developing a small device that will “link the brain to a computer, consisting of electrode-laced wires.”
Placing the device requires drilling into the skull.
DRILLING. INTO. THE. SKULL.
A company funded by the same billionaire who’s responsible for exploding cars and rockets while torching Twitter wants to literally get inside our heads?
The mere description of the implanting process should be a giant screaming NO (with added bonus swearing) from anyone who’s already seen how poorly Elon memes.
It’s a very hard pass from me, thanks.
However, Neuralink isn’t the only potentially brain-scrambling game in town.
A company called Synchron Inc. (is that Terminator-esque enough for you?) has already enrolled its first American patient in a similar clinical trial.
Synchron’s less-invasive implant uses a different kind of technology from Neuralink’s to help people with paralysis. Also, it has nothing to do with Elon Musk.
I understand the basic intentions are good here. But I wouldn’t let Musk near my melon for all the money.
Seems Twitter agrees.
https://twitter.com/Hilltop__Leader/status/1661889870833369088?s=20
I’m begging every blue check to line up to have #ApartheidBoy jam a monkey-murdering piece of crap right inside their sad, gullible little brains. Begging.
— Dennis Perkins Will Never Pay Apartheid Boy A Dime (@DennisPerkins5) May 26, 2023
Countdown Florida trying to pass a law absolving Neuralink of responsibility for sudden death. pic.twitter.com/7yGp8B9C4X
— John Scott-Railton (@jsrailton) May 26, 2023
Elon's first "successful" Neuralink test pic.twitter.com/XGEtqxsMBh
— Tara Dublin wrote a really cool book! (@taradublinrocks) May 26, 2023
*THIS IS AN OPINION COLUMN THAT SOLELY REPRESENTS THE OPINIONS OF TARA DUBLIN. HOORAY FOR THE FREE PRESS!*
Other hot takes by Tara Dublin can be found on TikTok and Twitter @taradublinrocks.
