this post was submitted on 09 May 2024
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The first invasive brain chip that Neuralink embedded into a human brain has malfunctioned, with neuron-surveilling threads appearing to have become dislodged from the participant's brain, the company revealed in a blog post Wednesday.

It's unclear what caused the threads to become "retracted" from the brain, how many have retracted, or if the displaced threads pose a safety risk. Neuralink, the brain-computer interface startup run by controversial billionaire Elon Musk, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Ars. The company said in its blog post that the problem began in late February, but it has since been able to compensate for the lost data to some extent by modifying its algorithm.

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[–] [email protected] 145 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Betcha he took a shower and forgot to put it in shower mode.

[–] [email protected] 54 points 3 months ago (1 children)

DO NOT WASH YOUR BRAIN IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 months ago

Of fuck, you just reminded me of that commercial. HEAD ON! APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD! HEAD ON! APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD!

Thanks Obama!

[–] [email protected] 95 points 3 months ago (2 children)

The company said in its blog post that the problem began in late February, but it has since been able to compensate for the lost data to some extent by modifying its algorithm.

Because that's what people are worried about: THE LOST DATA.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

When a computer reads some signal, the 0s and 1s in it's memory is the data. The data must be processed so that the computer can understand it.

This computer is using threads to read neuron activity. It must necessarily receive data because if it didn't it wouldn't be reading neuron activity. They're the same thing.

This data is processed so that the computer can make sense of the brain. Once it understands some activity it generates signals that can control external devices.

Here's an example. Imagine a device that monitors the heart and does something to fix a problem. The device would get data on the heart and process the data so that it can perform it's function.

Wouldn't monitoring health concerns and mitigating data loss be extremely important in these scenarios?

[–] [email protected] 26 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

The point is that this is the opening paragraph about something going wrong in human brain surgery, and the first thing they tell us is "don't worry, the data's fine", rather than anything about the human. Indeed, you have to read to the last paragraph to find:

Arbaugh's safety does not appear to be negatively impacted.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

and the first thing they tell us is “don’t worry, the data’s fine”, rather than anything about the human.

I do agree it would have been significantly more considerate to mention that the person is ok first, but I feel like you're confusing data storage (ie something they're collecting) with data processing (ie how the device operates). The data in question is the latter. In other words, they are explaining that the problems are being accounted for so that the device can still function in the human it's attached to.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago

No, I understood that, I did read the article. I'm lambasting the fact that in an article about "brain chip gone wrong", burying the "but human seems to be unharmed" at the end of an article is indicative of a set of priorities wildly different from my own.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 months ago

TY! My first thought was he was this poor sweet guy who just wanted to play Civ and fell for this grifter

[–] [email protected] 78 points 3 months ago

Have they tried firing most of the neurons, keeping only the most hardcore?

[–] [email protected] 51 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I can't believe anyone willingly got this after the monkey testing thing. They have to be taking advantage of people not fit to make decisions for themselves.

[–] [email protected] 72 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (15 children)

The patient became quadriplegia in a car accident, I wouldn't call it unfit for decisions but definitely someone desperate to find a sense of normalcy.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (6 children)

Guy has nothing left to lose really, I don’t blame him for taking this risk considering I would strongly consider it myself were I in his situation

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Yes, unfortunately this is the case. In an article I read the guy was able to pay chess and Age of Empires with his thoughts and the chip, quite impressive tech indeed, it’s just that you absolutely cannot trust anything near Musk

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

OCZ back in the day (2008) had a brainwave game controller... didn't need surgery for that.

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16826100006

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 months ago

Not many options I guess. Sucks to have to gamble on the crazy billionaire with a lot of faulty shit.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago

I can believe people took up on this offer. As the saying goes drowning man will reach for straws. Issue is they probably oversold reliability and safety.

[–] [email protected] 46 points 3 months ago (4 children)

I don't know which company I would trust developing my brain implant, but it sure as hell isn't Tesla. Their software and hardware history is less than stellar.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It's ok, there's still other companies to choose from. Twitter can develop your brain implant instead!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

Have you considered upgrading to the Ultra Premium Deluxe Version? For just 99.99- a month, you can actually use what you bought!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

I mean it's too early to trust anyone with this new technology

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It's all very well having a Tesla implant, until you stop at a junction and your brain catches fire.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

For stellar technology you need to go to SpaceX. You've been shopping at the wrong Musk store.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Musk store

Welcome to the Musk store! Go over to customer service and get your brain implant. Then you can start shopping and your Neuralink will know what items you put in your cart. The most convienent shopping experience ever! Just don't shoplift, we'll know.

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 3 months ago (1 children)

What are we going to do tomorrow night Brain?

[–] [email protected] 26 points 3 months ago

The same thing we do every night Pinky.

TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD

[–] [email protected] 23 points 3 months ago

Well, that'll happen if you don't take your Neuropozyne. Their test subject should have budgeted for that before getting augmented.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 3 months ago
[–] [email protected] 19 points 3 months ago

No one could have predicted this totally predictable situation.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 months ago

Honestly surprised he didn't just run into a wall

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 months ago

If only someone could have predicted

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 months ago

Well... that's probably the most expected thing to ever be expected. It was never a matter of 'if', it was a matter of when.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago

Just another rapid disassembly, nothing to see here..

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

This technology is amazing. I hope this turns out well for the volunteer.

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