Noah Rubin Week 2 - Elon Musk’s Brain Implant - An Ethical Dilemma

 How can I introduce Elon Musk? Most would say that he’s the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, but this article isn’t even about one of those companies. In the second line of his wikipedia article, there are 5 companies that he is actively leading. One of which is called Neuralink - a company that is working on the first commercial brain implant with claims that it will be able to cure everything from blindness to depression. I first heard about it in the news about a year ago, but it seemed really out there - last week I saw Elon demo the device on a live pig (NO JOKE). 

 

Here's how it works:

A surgeon drills out a coin size hole to expose your brain, and a robot inserts over a thousand electrodes into specific spots of your brain. These electrodes will be able to / can read and write brain activity, apparently. Musk’s hope is to solve many brain related illnesses/issues with the help of the device such as the following.

These claims are incredible, and I’m hopeful that this technology will help cure many brain related issues. Conversely, I am worried - deeply worried - with what this technology will do to our world. Musk also mentioned that the product will be available commercially for everyone to buy at some point… The Neuralink will be able to search the internet, change your mood, and even summon a Tesla (of course). I should remind you that multiple pigs have the Neuralink already - this isn’t some far out sci-fi that I’m talking about. The link to his presentation is at the bottom of this post, and I’d highly recommend you watch the whole thing - I was amazed, but back to being scared.

While Musk’s intentions are good, I can see this going terribly wrong in so many ways. How long until your brain data is being sold to companies? How long until the Neuralink gives you an advertisement, or worse, a subconscious urge to buy a product (maybe a Tesla lol). How long until you change your mood so many times that you lose any meaning in your life (like what happens in sci-fi). How long until the government or political candidates get into your head and change your opinions. If you think that these speculations are far off, I think they’ll become real issues in our life-time. 

Regardless, I’m afraid that this implant will be the extremest case of have vs have-nots. Musk wants to make the link “affordable” - a couple thousand dollars. That’s not affordable! So all the rich kids will get a Neuralink and the poor kids will be stuck without? In school, at work, in social settings etc? I don't even think we can understand how powerful the device will become - you will have the infinite knowledge of the internet, the best mood all the time, and so many other advantages we can’t even imagine all tucked away under your hair unbeknownst to anyone else. One YouTube commenter suggested that ‘the day Elon stops stuttering, we’ll know he has it’ - this device is much more than anything the world has ever seen.

While I think that Elon has the best intentions at heart, trying to cure illnesses and help people, I personally think that this technology is dangerous for our society. Let me know what you guys think in the comments - I think at the very least it is a very interesting ethical dilemma.

Here is the link to his presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOWFXqT5MZ4&ab_channel=CNET