Elon Musk's neuroscience startup Neuralink has revealed the "dramatically simplified" design for an implant that aims to create brain-to-machine interfaces, alongside the robot that inserts it.
Musk shared updates of the implant, which Neuralink is developing to connect human brains with computer interfaces via artificial intelligence, in an online presentation last week.
Musk explained that over the past year the company has "dramatically simplified" the wearable device. The previous design consisted of a bean-shaped device that would sit behind the ear.
The in-brain device could enable humans with neurological conditions to control technology, such as phones or computers, with their thoughts.
Musk also claims to be able to solve neurological disorders from memory, hearing loss and blindness to paralysis, depression and brain damage.
The current prototype, referred to as version 0.9, measures at 23 millimetres by eight millimetres, and has 1024 electrode "threads" attached to it that are implanted into the brain.
It is designed to replace a coin-sized portion of skull and sit flush so it would be physically unnoticeable. It would be inductively charged, the same way you would wirelessly charge a smartwatch or a phone.
