Elon Musk's Neuralink lets paralysed woman write her name after 20 years using only her mind
In a follow-up post, Crews revealed that she underwent brain surgery to receive the Neuralink implant at the University of Miami Health Centre. The procedure involved drilling a small hole in her skull and meticulously placing 128 threads into her motor cortex. Notably, doctors use robotic assistance during the procedure to ensure greater precision. The chip itself is roughly the size of a 10p coin.Crews then shared that the surgery had been a success and that everything was progressing 'amazingly'. 'The BCI lets me control my computer using my mind. I'll be able to control more electronic devices in the near future. I also want to clarify that this implant will not allow me to walk again or regain movement. It's strictly for telepathy only,' she wrote.Elon Musk, also shared Crews' story and commented on X: 'She is controlling her computer just by thinking. Most people don't realise this is possible.'
But how exactly does the Neuralink implant work?Founded in 2016, Neuralink is developing implantable brain–computer interfaces (BCIs). At the core of the system is a small device, referred to as 'The Link' or the 'N1 Implant', which is surgically placed in the skull. From this implant, thin, flexible threads are positioned into specific regions of the brain, particularly the motor cortex, which is involved in movement control.advertisementThese threads contain electrodes designed to detect and record the electrical signals generated by neurons. When an individual thinks of an action – in Crews' case, what she describes as 'telepathy' – their neurons produce specific electrical patterns. The Neuralink implant captures these neural signals and transmits them wirelessly to an external device, such as a computer.Algorithms on the external device then interpret these brain signals, converting them into commands that can operate digital interfaces. In Audrey Crews' case, her thoughts are translated into actions on a computer screen, allowing her to manipulate a cursor, type, or interact with software without any physical input.Musk has previously shared that the primary aim of Neuralink at this stage is to provide individuals with severe paralysis or neurological conditions a way to interact with digital devices purely by thought. Crews herself has been posting regular updates on her recovery, showing how she is able to do things like play games, write her name and even draw on a computer screen – all simply by thinking.- Ends
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
26 minutes ago
- Hans India
Starlink Gets Green Light in India: Elon Musk's Satellite Internet Set to Launch Soon
Elon Musk's ambitious satellite internet venture, Starlink, is officially making its way to India, with the country's telecom ministry recently granting the company a key operating licence. The move is expected to transform internet access in India's far-flung and underserved areas, especially in rural regions where traditional connectivity options remain limited. The approval comes after years of anticipation and regulatory back-and-forth. Initially proposed in 2021, the project had faced delays over spectrum distribution and compliance requirements. Now, with the Unified Licence granted by the Department of Telecommunications, Starlink is poised to begin services, pending final spectrum allocation. "Frameworks for spectrum allocation and gateway establishment are ready, ensuring smooth rollout,' Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed, as reported by PTI. Starlink's entry does not intend to directly compete with existing telecom players like Jio, Airtel, and BSNL in urban markets. Instead, the service will serve as a complementary solution, particularly in areas where terrestrial networks fall short. Minister of State for Telecom, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, also confirmed the approval and highlighted the potential of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to bolster India's digital infrastructure. To make the rollout practical, Starlink has reportedly partnered with Indian telecom giants such as Airtel and Jio for infrastructure sharing. This collaboration is expected to assist in distributing Starlink's hardware kits across the country. These kits, which include a satellite dish, Wi-Fi router, and mounting gear, are priced at approximately Rs 33,000. Once installed, users can expect to pay around Rs 3,000 per month for unlimited data. However, in a bid to attract early adopters, promotional plans may start at Rs 850 per month. The expected internet speeds will range between 25 Mbps and 220 Mbps, with an initial cap of two million users across India. Starlink's rollout adds momentum to an increasingly competitive space for satellite broadband in India. Other players such as Eutelsat OneWeb, backed by Bharti, and Jio's joint venture with SES of Luxembourg have also received approvals but await spectrum assignments before starting commercial operations. India's need for robust internet solutions is well-documented. As per the IAMAI-Kantar ICUBE Report 2023, more than 65% of the rural population still lacks reliable internet access. Satellite broadband is widely regarded as a game-changer in bridging this digital divide, especially in remote terrains and mountainous regions. Looking ahead, Starlink is also preparing to launch its next-generation satellites by 2026. These are expected to deliver over 1,000 Gbps capacity per satellite, significantly enhancing performance and potentially pushing internet speeds to ten times the current rates. This evolution could further strengthen the value proposition of Starlink in areas that remain beyond the reach of fiber and mobile broadband. With regulatory approvals now largely in place, all eyes are on spectrum allocation, the final piece of the puzzle. Once that's resolved, Starlink could begin reshaping India's internet landscape—just as Tesla redefined the electric vehicle industry.
New Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Tesla fined over $240 million in fatal autopilot crash case
CHENNAI: Even as Elon Musk is strongly pushing for a driverless taxi service in the US cities with Tesla's autopilot cars, the company has been ordered by a federal jury in Miami to pay over $240 million (about Rs 2000 crore) in damages in connection with a 2019 crash in Florida that involved its Autopilot driver-assist system. The ruling marks one of the largest-ever jury awards related to the company's controversial technology and places renewed scrutiny on Tesla's claims around autonomous driving. The crash, which occurred in Key Largo, killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and severely injured her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. The Tesla Model S involved in the incident was reportedly operating on Autopilot when it failed to respond to a T-intersection at the end of a road. The driver of the vehicle, George McGee, admitted to being distracted by his phone at the time of the crash. Although the jury found McGee primarily responsible, it determined that Tesla shared 33% of the blame. Jurors concluded that Tesla's Autopilot technology failed to alert the driver or prevent the crash and should not have allowed operation on non-highway roads like the one where the accident occurred. They awarded approximately $243 million in total damages, including about $200 million in punitive damages and $43 million in compensatory damages. Tesla is responsible for roughly $42.6 million of the total sum. The verdict is especially significant as Tesla faces growing questions about the safety and marketing of its driver-assist systems. During the trial, the plaintiffs argued that Tesla overstated the capabilities of Autopilot and failed to ensure that data relevant to the crash was properly disclosed. Expert testimony revealed the company had access to telemetry and video data it initially denied possessing. Tesla said it would appeal the verdict, citing a pretrial agreement that may limit punitive damages to three times the compensatory amount. The company maintains that Autopilot is designed to assist attentive drivers and that responsibility ultimately remains with the person behind the wheel. The ruling comes as Tesla CEO Elon Musk pushes forward with plans to launch a driverless taxi service in multiple US cities. The company has recently stepped up public messaging around the safety and reliability of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. This landmark decision could influence future legal battles involving semi-autonomous driving systems and raises broader concerns over the regulation and deployment of such technologies on public roads.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Alphabet's CapitalG, Nvidia in talks to fund Vast Data at up to $30 billion valuation
Alphabet 's growth-stage venture arm CapitalG and Nvidia are in talks to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure provider Vast Data in a new funding round that could value the startup as high as $30 billion, two sources said. The startup is raising several billion dollars from tech giants, private equity and venture capital investors, which could make it one of the most valuable AI startups, the two sources with knowledge of the matter said, as companies building the backbone for the AI boom come into sharper focus. CapitalG and existing backer Nvidia are in discussions to participate in the round, which could close in the next few weeks, according to the sources, who requested anonymity to speak on private matters. New York-headquartered Vast Data develops storage technology specifically designed for large AI data centers, enabling efficient data movement between graphics processors (GPUs) made by the likes of Nvidia. Its clients include companies such as Elon Musk's xAI and CoreWeave, and its value in the AI supply chain makes it an attractive acquisition target, bankers and analysts said. Nvidia declined to comment, while Vast Data and CapitalG did not respond to requests for comment. TechCrunch earlier reported Vast Data's fundraising efforts, but the valuation of up to $30 billion and the expected involvement of CapitalG and Nvidia have not been reported previously. Vast Data CEO Renen Halak has said the company is free cash flow positive. The company earned $200 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by January 2025, with a strong backlog of orders and projections to grow ARR to $600 million next year, according to a separate source familiar with its financials. The company has raised roughly $380 million to date, and its last funding round in 2023 valued it at $9.1 billion. Vast Data has said it would consider an initial public offering at the right time. While no listing is imminent, according to another source familiar with the matter, investors and bankers view the data infrastructure firm as a likely IPO candidate. Vast Data last year hired Amy Shapero, its first chief financial officer, who was previously in the same role at publicly listed ecommerce giant Shopify, in a move that could signal preparations for an IPO. Mergers and acquisitions activity has also been heating up in the sector, and Nvidia has been acquiring companies that add complementary software and hardware products beyond its flagship GPUs. In 2020, it bought networking chip and cable maker Mellanox, which has helped Nvidia build integrated systems featuring its latest Blackwell chips. It has also acquired software companies such as Run:ai, which helps engineers optimize data center AI hardware. Vast Data's storage architecture is based on a system of flash storage devices and other off-the-shelf hardware, combined with its specialized software for data access and movement. The company says adopting its technology can reduce the cost of building and running large AI models. Several early-stage companies, such as Weka and DDN, are pursuing similar efforts, but analysts and industry executives say Vast Data's technology is more mature than that of its rivals.
