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Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration gave Neuralink, which Musk cofounded in 2016, approval to launch human trials of its device that Musk has described as a "Fitbit in your skull." The FDA had previously rejected Neuralink's bid for human testing in March over safety concerns, Reuters reported, including that the wires connected to the brain chip could move within a subject's head or that the chip could overheat.

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[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 98 points 10 months ago

What the fuck is wrong with people?

[-] snorkbubs@fedia.io 115 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Neuralink said in a blog post that it was looking for people who had paralysis in all four limbs because of a spinal-cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, these people are willing to take a risk in order to overcome difficult conditions, and that should be allowed. On the other hand, it feels like Neuralink is preying on their hopes.

If the company figurehead wasn't a libertarian billionaire edgelord, I might look past that second hand. No chance of that, though. He's going to kill people, and then he's going to retweet memes about it.

[-] Caradoc879@lemmy.world 46 points 10 months ago

Wasn't there a report about dozens of dead monkeys from animal trials a few months ago?

[-] wildginger@lemmy.myserv.one 23 points 10 months ago

I dont think they reached dozens, but yes this is the same project that had dead monkey headlines rolling around

[-] wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 25 points 10 months ago

Not just dead, lot's of suffering beforehand. Those were some nauseating stories.

[-] geophysicist@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I've read a lot of disturbing stuff on the internet but those descriptions of what the monkeys endured made me feel really uncomfortable

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[-] grue@lemmy.world 43 points 10 months ago

I admit, under the right circumstances, cybernetic enhancements could be cool.

Anything connected in any way with Elon Musk is emphatically not the right circumstances, of course.

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[-] Rottcodd@lemmy.ninja 20 points 10 months ago

We're dumb animals, not much different from other dumb animals.

If squirrels had news media, they could have a story that says, "Thousands of squirrels are lining up to try to cross busy streets in front of cars."

And some number of squirrels would read that and think, "What the hell is wrong with them?"

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 17 points 10 months ago

At least crossing the street gives them a chance of getting to the acorns. This achieves nothing.

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[-] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 10 months ago

I mean, if I couldn't communicate with the outside world or have use of my limbs I would take any risk to regain that functionality. This could have a real shot of giving people with terrible conditions a better quality of life.

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[-] DigitalFrank@lemmy.world 79 points 10 months ago

"Think about how dumb the average person is. Now, realize that half of them are dumber than that."

    • George Carlin
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[-] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 78 points 10 months ago

Even if it was safe “Fitbit in your skull” sounds awful

[-] jeffw@lemmy.world 37 points 10 months ago

“Please track my thoughts and sell the data, daddy Elon!” - the people lining up for this probably

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[-] gnate@lemmy.world 13 points 10 months ago

And then there's the ads...

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[-] Fades@lemmy.world 59 points 10 months ago

As I said in another thread about nLink:

Anyone getting this shit will die just like every single fucking monkey test subject. If they don’t die, their suffering will be unbearable

https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-pcrm-neuralink-monkey-deaths/

Go on Elon, show us how it’s done and take the first one

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 20 points 10 months ago

Dad got his brain chip in 2010. Worked great. Had nothing to do with neuralink. They've been doing these implants safely for at least that long. The fact that musk can't keep monkeys alive says a lot about the fact that neuralink isn't ready.

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[-] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 59 points 10 months ago

Love that they're calling it a Fitbit in your skull. Cause Fitbit is currently dying and removing support. Imagine getting a skull implant that stops getting support and updates after a year, and you now have a useless device in your brain

[-] rifugee@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago

you now have a useless device in your brain

I think that if you are one of the first to volunteer for this, then you probably wouldn't notice.

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[-] frazw@lemmy.world 43 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

"Your trial subscription to module: 'breathing' will end in 30 days. If you'd like to continue your subscription please accept the new terms and conditions and link your payment method using the following link."

P.s. I know neuralink cannot do this... Yet

[-] MeanEYE@lemmy.world 39 points 10 months ago

This is like self-solving problem then?

[-] foggy@lemmy.world 33 points 10 months ago
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[-] Lyrac@programming.dev 32 points 10 months ago

tf is my skull gonna do with a fitbit?

[-] Ogeon@programming.dev 48 points 10 months ago

It's useful for keeping track of your mental gymnastics.

[-] Lyrac@programming.dev 11 points 10 months ago

Brilliant. Purchasing now.

[-] Nougat@kbin.social 30 points 10 months ago

I'm sure Musk won't randomly disable any features remotely.

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[-] MuuuaadDib@lemm.ee 28 points 10 months ago

I would guess, and this is completely a guess, these are Elon fans who think that the vaccines were dangerous and had microchips in them.

[-] instamat@lemmy.world 27 points 10 months ago

He’s done wonders with Twitter/Tesla/spacex, I don’t see how he could foul this up

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[-] Riccosuave@lemmy.world 26 points 10 months ago
[-] xkforce@lemmy.world 25 points 10 months ago

It does not surprise me that muskrats would sign up for this. Theyre basically brainwashed anyway so a chip wouldnt really change much.

[-] Dkarma@lemmy.world 25 points 10 months ago

Everyone needs to read about the poor monkeys in these trials.

Horrific.

[-] gazter@aussie.zone 21 points 10 months ago

I'm happy they've moved on from testing on unwilling monkeys, to willing humans.

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[-] idunnololz@lemmy.world 23 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

natural selection is back baby

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[-] Gigan@lemmy.world 18 points 10 months ago

No way in hell would I do that. I can't think of a worse technology to be an earlier adopter on.

[-] PeckerBrown@lemmy.world 18 points 10 months ago

Fuck him, and fuck that.

[-] oDDmON@lemmy.world 18 points 10 months ago

Welcome, to the latest episode of Evolution In Action!

Today’s contestants will attempt to survive having foreign objects inserted into their braincases!

But first, a word from our sponsors.

[-] AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip 18 points 10 months ago

We... at least I learnt about this in school. Its called natural selection.

[-] weeahnn@lemmy.world 17 points 10 months ago

Hooo boii. I just cannot wait till we can't sleep because Muskrat keeps appearing in our dreams, trying to convince us that he is a cool memer.

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[-] snek@lemmy.world 17 points 10 months ago

Musk makes it sound like he is the only person with a company investing in this, even though.

One example is Synchron that already beat him to human trials two years ago

[-] Starkstruck@lemmy.world 16 points 10 months ago

Ah, natural selection. I don't wish death upon any of these people, but I certainly won't be surprised when they start dropping like flies (or the countless monkeys in the trials).

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[-] KroninJ@lemmy.world 15 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I'd be in line myself of it wasn't for a few key things.

Successful trials

Elon's history on fucking with shit for his own entertainment and/or personal gain

You know this will be connected to the internet to work

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[-] ProfessorScience@lemmy.world 13 points 10 months ago

I need one of these chips like I need a hole in my... oh.

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[-] ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works 12 points 10 months ago

Eh, someday we're going to have safe, powerful cybernetic implants and it'll be because some people were willing to be test subjects. I'm not willing to be a test subject myself but I'm glad that other people are.

[-] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 25 points 10 months ago

With the way corporations are behaving with our electronic devices, I wouldn't trust any of them with my body.

[-] meathorse@lemm.ee 16 points 10 months ago

"Before you enjoy your mid-afternoon nap, a word from several of our sponsors. Please close your eyes for optimal viewing experience"

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[-] Candelestine@lemmy.world 9 points 10 months ago
[-] dohpaz42@lemmy.world 15 points 10 months ago

Synchron has already implanted the device in four patients in Australia who have been able to use the brain implant to send messages on WhatsApp and shop online.

Ahh, consumerism at its finest.

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this post was submitted on 09 Nov 2023
259 points (91.4% liked)

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