Will Neuralink “Superpowers” Save us from AI?

Web3, AI and the creator economy in under 3 minutes per week!

Author

Shira Lazar
August 05, 2024

Hey, Alpha fam! I’ve been somewhat off the grid for a few days after my phone broke while traveling outside the US. As someone who runs a company called What’s Trending and is used to being constantly connected, this experience led to some self-reflection. I shared more about it on LinkedIn. In the meantime, I’m catching up on this week’s news, and here are some stories that caught my attention.

Elon Musk has never shied away from bringing up controversial topics and pushing his latest tech products. His latest venture, Neuralink, takes this to a whole new level, promising to give us “superhuman” abilities that could help us stay competitive with AI. 

According to Musk, these brain implants could be the key to achieving "symbiosis" between humans and artificial intelligence, effectively preventing AI from surpassing us and going rogue. 

But is this our last alternative, or is it just another one of Musk's ambitious pitches to get more people on board with his tech vision?

Musk's idea around this is a bit oversimplified: if we can’t stop AI’s rapid evolution, why not upgrade ourselves to keep pace? 

Neuralink’s brain chips, which have already been implanted in human patients, are designed to record and stimulate brain activity. In the near future, these chips could potentially cure neurological disorders, enhance our natural senses, and even give us vision capabilities beyond human norms. Imagine seeing in infrared or ultraviolet, or having the vision acuity of an eagle. The possibilities seem straight out of a sci-fi movie.

But with all the excitement comes a wave of skepticism and ethical concerns. Musk has been under fire recently for various reasons, and Neuralink is no exception. Critics are questioning the implications of merging human minds with technology and whether this is truly about enhancing humanity or just another step towards a future dominated by tech giants.

Are we ready to integrate our brains with AI, or are we rushing into a future without fully understanding the consequences?

My Hot Take 🔥: While this future is becoming increasingly likely, we shouldn't automatically crown Musk as its leader. Many other companies are exploring this space and deserve our attention. Before centering Musk in this narrative (as we've done with electric cars and space travel), consider looking into other innovators such as Blackrock Neurotech, Kernel, Synchron, Paradromics, and BrainGate.

Shira Lazar

Additionally, check out my incredible friend Taryn Southern's documentary, I AM HUMAN, which delves into this very topic.

Other headlines to check out:

Web3

Creator Economy 

AI

On my Radar…

At SIGGRAPH 2024, Mark Zuckerberg and Nvidia Founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, had an unexpected fireside chat that moved from tech talk to friendly banter, complete with custom jacket swaps and an F-bomb from Zuckerberg. But what really caught my attention was the introduction of a new AI necklace called "Friend," designed to combat loneliness by acting as an always-listening companion.

The "Friend" AI necklace functions as a constant companion, offering emotional support through ongoing interaction. While it does raise clear privacy concerns, perhaps we’ve become accustomed to such issues with our everyday use of devices like Amazon Alexa and Siri.

Gentle reminder 🤲 

"You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather."  - Pema Chodron

I just finished reading her book, When Things Fall Apart. Highly recommend it! 

Remember, I'm Bullish on you!

With gratitude,