Context: 

• Tech mogul Elon Musk announced in the first week of February that the first human implantation of the Neuralink device — called Telepathy — has been achieved and the recovery and initial data collection are in progress and going well.

What is Neuralink?

• Neuralink is a tech company founded by Elon Musk that develops brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. 
• Their flagship product, the Telepathy device, is a surgically implantable chip with electrodes. It records neural activity and allows communication between the brain and external devices like computers.

Advantages of Neuralink:

• Medical Applications: Neuralink has the potential to address physical and cognitive limitations, benefiting individuals with disabilities.
  • These implants can help in treating neurological disorders like ALS, Parkinson’s and conditions such as obesity, autism, depression and schizophrenia.
  • This “for-profit model” of Neuralink is an assurance that businesses will continue to find incentives in devising technologies that break down accessibility barriers for those with disabilities.
• Technological Advancement: BCIs represent a significant technological advancement with potential applications beyond medical use.
  • Neuralink’s development pushes the boundaries of what is possible in merging human biology with technology, opening new possibilities for human-computer interaction.
• Research Opportunities: The development of Neuralink technology could pave the way for further research and discoveries in neuroscience and brain function.

Concerns with Neuralink:

• Privacy: There are concerns about who controls the data collected from users’ brains and how it might be exploited. Authorities should ensure that the safety, rights and privacy of study participants take precedence over the efficiency of a new study, at all times.
• Availability and Transparency of data: Data from the study should be available to the Public authorities to ensure adherence to the basic tenets of scientific discoveries — replicability and the ability of the raw data to be able to withstand scrutiny from the scientific community.
  • Neuralink has previously refused National Institute of Health (NIH) funding to keep its patented technology secure as federally-funded research comes with more oversight and mandated requirements of data sharing and transparency. 
  • While most academia-sponsored clinical trials that happen through major university hospitals in the US need to be registered, this study is not registered. 
  • The only information available is through an online brochure, which is characteristically minimalistic.
• Regulation: Regulation is needed to ensure ethical use and prevent misuse of the technology. Till now, Neuralink has come under any strict regulation of the US government. 
• Accessibility: The cost of the technology may limit access to those who can afford it, potentially creating inequities.
• Ethical Use: Ethical considerations arise regarding the potential for misuse or overuse of BCIs, necessitating careful monitoring and governance.
  • A primary ethical concern is the ownership of the data. There is no clarity on who the recorded data belongs to, which will be decoded to interpret the “intentions” of a person to control a digital device.

Neuralink would serve itself and the world better if it were more open about working of the device and the data it generates.