Monkey Plays Pong with Brain Using Neuralink | Elon Musk

Neuralink's Advances: Monkey Plays Pong with its Mind

Elon Musk’s Neuralink, a company within his diverse portfolio and uniquely focused on brain-computer interfaces, has recently published a new blog post and accompanying video. These materials detail the latest advancements achieved by the team.

The showcased demonstration involves a macaque monkey, named “Pager,” successfully playing Pong using only its brain activity. This represents a significant step forward in the development of the technology.

How the Technology Works

Neuralink’s hardware and brain implant were utilized to record a baseline of neural activity while Pager played a game. The game required the monkey to move a token across the screen using a joystick.

By analyzing this baseline data, machine learning algorithms were employed to predict Pager’s intended movements before they were physically executed. The system accurately anticipated the monkey’s actions.

Researchers progressively removed elements of the physical control scheme. First, the paddle was removed, and subsequently, the same approach was applied to Pong.

Ultimately, Pager was able to control the in-game action entirely through its mind, without any physical movement of a paddle or hand. This was achieved via the Link hardware and its embedded neural threads.

Implications for Human Applications

Previously, Elon Musk demonstrated the Link technology in August 2020, using pigs to illustrate its ability to read brain signals in response to various stimuli.

This new demonstration with Pager provides a clearer indication of the technology’s potential for human applications. Neuralink suggests the same technology could assist individuals with paralysis in manipulating a computer cursor.

The applications extend beyond cursor control, potentially encompassing touch controls on devices like iPhones and even enabling typing on a virtual keyboard.

Musk's Vision for the Future

Elon Musk has stated his expectation that the initial version of Neuralink’s product will allow individuals with paralysis, who are unable to use standard phone interaction methods, to interact with a phone more rapidly than those using their thumbs.

Furthermore, he envisions future iterations facilitating communication between Neuralink devices implanted in different parts of a patient’s body.

This could potentially restore motor function, such as enabling “paraplegics to walk again” by transmitting signals between an in-brain node and neural pathways in the legs.

Cautious Optimism

While these claims are ambitious, Neuralink emphasizes that its demonstrations and near-term goals are supported by existing research.

However, Elon Musk’s more expansive projections should be viewed with appropriate skepticism, as is often the case with his forecasts.

He anticipates the commencement of human trials “hopefully later this year,” a timeline that has already been revised from his initial expectations.