Musk released a major breakthrough in the brain-computer interface, which is actually just getting started
■ Observer
To a certain extent, a radical geek image can support the capital market.
In July 2019, Musk's black technology of "behind the head intubation" made its debut, which surprised the world. After a year, its brain-computer interface has made great progress. On August 29, at Neuralink's headquarters in San Francisco, with the help of Gertrude the piglet's real-time neuron activity demonstration, Musk introduced the company's latest developments.
Neuralink was founded by Musk in 2016 and is mainly engaged in the development of "neural network" technology, that is, the integration of computers and human brains. Nowadays, brain-computer interfaces can work with AI algorithms to read brain activity information, which will be the basis for alleviating depression and addictive behaviors, helping to solve obsessive-compulsive disorder and treating brain injuries. The device has been certified by the FDA's Breakthrough Device Program in July, and is about to undergo human experiments, and it may be put into practical use soon.
However, I think this technology has been exaggerated by public opinion, as if helping blind people regain light, brainpowering machines, human brain networking, uploading consciousness, etc. are just around the corner. But at present this is just a romantic imagination.
It is not appropriate to be too optimistic about brain-computer technology at present
In fact, Neuralink is a bit reluctant to be called a brain-computer interface. According to this standard, the so-called brain-computer interface has long existed, that is, the cochlear implant. From the perspective of the development history of cochlear implants, there is no support for being too optimistic about brain-computer interfaces.
A cochlear implant is an electronic device that converts sound into an electrical signal in a coded form, and restores or reconstructs the hearing function of the deaf through an electrode system implanted in the body. In recent years, cochlear implants have been clinically used as a conventional method for the treatment of severe to total deafness. So far, more than 360,000 implants have been implanted worldwide, and the price is around 200,000 yuan.
Back in history, as early as 1790, the Italian Volt inserted two small metal rods into his bilateral external ear canals. After turning on the current, he could hear a sound similar to boiling. By 1930, it was discovered that the electrical response from the cat’s auditory nerve region had properties similar to natural sounds. At the same time, Russian scientists discovered that alternating current can produce hearing and understand language.
In February 1957, the Parisian otologist Charles Irias took the historic first step by implanting an induction coil into the patient’s ear and connecting it to the auditory nerve. Through electromagnetic signals, the patient heard the sound and felt the difference in pitch . However, the patient was ultimately disappointed with the results and asked to remove the implant.
In 1972, the American House-3M single-channel cochlear implant became the first-generation commercial device. In 1982, the Australian Nucleus 22 cochlear implant became the first multi-channel cochlear device used in the world. With the development of modern information technology, it has become a reality to connect nerves directly and hear sounds. But even since 1930, humans have spent a full 50 years on this. Moreover, the signal conversion of sound waves is the simplest and easiest, and the theory is very mature.
Musk needs the image of a tech madman
Compared with sound waves, the coding of light and image signals is more complicated. As for actions and consciousness, humans currently have a more superficial understanding, and there is no mature theory for even the basic operating mechanism. The difficulty of simulation increases exponentially.
According to historical experience, all human leaps in bionic engineering have been achieved after a thorough understanding of the mechanism of physiological processes. For example, a flying machine can be built by imitating the flight of a bird, but its basis is aerodynamics, and humans are far from being more flexible than fish and birds.
At present, the development of human brain science is far from enough, and even little is known about the operation of the brain. From this perspective, the development of brain-computer connection technology has just begun, and it is far from people's imagination. As for uploading consciousness, it can only be science fiction. After all, human beings' understanding of consciousness up to now, not to mention scientific theories, even the philosophical level is very superficial.
Musk is an image of a technology madman in China. The Chinese love hard technology, so Musk's image in China is extremely positive. But if you carefully consider his multiple businesses, you will find something intriguing.
Tesla has a lot of government subsidies, and SpaceX and Starlink need a lot of venture capital. The nature of these businesses is for investors and the government, and whether it is Tesla, SpaceX or Starlink, the model has not finally worked, and the success or failure is uncertain.
It is the characteristics of this kind of business that determine the personality. Musk needs the image of a technical madman. Although he can program, his university studies economics. But he is technically more fanatical than industry experts. To a certain extent, a radical geek image can support the capital market. When evaluating Musk's brain-computer experiments today, these factors must be considered.
□Liu Yuanju (Columnist)