Elon Musk’s new medical research company to create neural lace technology

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has confirmed the launch of his new startup company, Neuralink, which is aimed at developing technology that will connect brains to computers.

The company, which Musk says is registered as a “medical research” firm and is still in its very early stages, will develop so-called “neural lace” technology which would implant tiny electrodes into the brain.The technique could be used to improve memory or give humans added artificial intelligence.

Leading academics in the field have been signed up to work at the company which is being funded privately by Musk.Specialists in the field envision a time when humans may be able to upload and download thoughts.

In a tweet earlier this week, Musk confirmed the existence of the company and said more details about the firm would be made public next week via WaitButWhy - a site known for illustrating its lengthy posts with often crude but charming stick figure drawings.

Musk is considered one of Silicon Valley’s most visionary figures – and surely now its busiest.As well as heading electric carmaker Tesla, Musk is involved with running space exploration company Space X, a project to reinvent transport called Hyperloop and, most recently, a firm investigating the feasibility of boring tunnels underneath Los Angeles – and a new project to power Australia.

Tweeting about Neuralink, Musk conceded it would be “difficult to dedicate the time, but existential risk is too high not to”.

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