7 ms·

Neuralink Raises an Additional $43M

44 points by webmaven 3y ago

scientaster2 3y ago
> Founded in 2016, Neuralink has devised a sewing machine-like device capable of implanting ultra-thin threads inside the brain. I know people get elective surgeries all the time (plastics, etc), but I feel hard pressed that this company is going to convince people to open up their skull for some promise of cool technology. Even if it is successful from a technology perspective, the chicken and egg problem they'll face with developers is an order of magnitude or two higher than with AR/VR headsets. It's already an uphill battle without having to convince people to open up their brain, I just can't see this gaining any adoption unless there's a surgery-lite path outside the skull.
- askonomm 3y ago
  I think you underestimate what people with disabilities are willing to try to lessen their disabilities. This isn't for making people pretty, it's to (potentially) help people lead mostly normal lives. Similar things that are currently on market are way more invasive than what Neuralink wants to offer, so it would already be a major upgrade, and look mostly normal from the outside.
  - LightBug1 3y ago
    Unfortunately, that's always the promise. To make the better world. But the money and investment will quickly and increasingly focus elsewhere once the concept is proven.
    - CamelCaseName 3y ago
      Will it? I can think of quite a few initiatives which have taken in countless billions of dollars, cancer research, Alzheimer's, Dementia, Cystic Fibrosis, etc. Nothing sexy about that at all, just helping people lead normal lives.
      - LightBug1 3y ago
        Those are all 'good' causes by definition with gradual progress. Here, the snake oil is in the comments similar to 'Neuralink will help disabled people'. But Neuralink so so wide spectrum that, if it works, it will spawn multiple different industries. And capital will find it's way to the most lucrative applications, as it always does ... and those applications won't be 'helping disable people'.
  - caycep 3y ago
    erm, if their latest "cranioplasty w/ eCoG" thing that's being rumored is real, that's way more invasive than the current deep brain stimulation or utah array systems...
- javajosh 3y ago
  >sewing machine-like device Unless my brain has a bobbin in it, it probably doesn't work like a modern sewing machine.
  - stevecat 3y ago
    You have to pass a loop of wire up your nose.
  - bch 3y ago
    > Unless my brain has a bobbin in it This is your brain on dance music
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
varelse 3y ago
[dead]
loufe 3y ago
Elon's ability to find willing sources of capital for his ventures seems nothing short of incredible. He has clearly deservedly earned a reputation for delivering, but some projects seem tangential and lacking his attention, and they are fully funded nevertheless. He really sets the bar high for being a mover. That's not to avoid discussing the animal welfare concerns that merit attention, though. One can only speculate what's going on in the man's head at any given point, but I wonder where the truth lies in his pressuring for results. In any case, it reminds me of the story from the KingKiller Chronicles of the member of the Amyr who killed tens of thousands of peasants in unethical medical experiments hundreds of years before the story of Kvolthe. Kvolthe reflects on the balances of lives saved with the medical knowledge gained, systemetized, and shared through those medical experiments, the balance being -to his estimate- positive.
- wslh 3y ago
  > Elon's ability to find willing sources of capital for his ventures seems nothing short of incredible. I think it is just a message via WhatsApp or other messaging app? I also wonder if he just has a group with many VCs and broadcast the message there. I simplify the founding process in two group of founders: the ones for mere mortals and the ones that are oversubscribed and people ask YOU in random places if you have some access to the deal with dilated pupils.
- rapsey 3y ago
  > He has clearly deservedly earned a reputation for delivering, Which is why his ability to find sources of capital is not surprising in the least.
  - caycep 3y ago
    he delivers if he has a good partner to keep him grounded...or is good enough to manage things when he's gone. Tesla: Eberhard and Terpenning SpaceX: Gwynne Shotwell, above all, but also Cantrell and Mueller. vs. say - the Boring Company - what have they done recently that wasn't a joke? I'd say I'd be more confident of Neuralink if someone who actually knows about BCI/BMI were involved, like I'd like to see names like Rich Andersen, Doris Tsao, or someone from the late Krisha Shenoy's lab involved...
wincy 3y ago
My daughter is five years old. She’s smart and adorable and can really turn on the charm. We went on vacation and she asked whole families “what’s your name” and introduced herself. Unfortunately she had the bad fortune of being born with the bottom of her spinal cord outside of her body. She can’t walk, and she can’t control her bowels and bladder. She has a port in her skull, a brain shunt, that moves the cerebrospinal fluid into her belly which is extremely important for her continued wellbeing. Her prognosis at this point is she should be able to live into her sixties or seventies with modern medical technology. But with modern technology she’ll never be able to walk. I’m really hopeful that one day Neuralink will let my child walk. Things like this give me hope when I feel depressed about her quality of life or how she’ll be treated as an adult.
- caycep 3y ago
  Why wait? There are brain-machine interface trials already underway w/ BRAINGATE and other university consortiums
  - dpflan 3y ago
    (Was creating my comment seconds before yours). Indeed, I just posted a link to that project.
  - wincy 3y ago
    Thanks, I'll look into it. A lot of what I've seen so far is restricted to adults (for obvious reasons).
- dpflan 3y ago
  Thank you for sharing this. I believe there is more research into BCI and motor-control, for example this project: BrainGate (https://www.braingate.org/ https://www.braingate.org/). Whatever becomes commercialized will be interesting, but the field is progressing.
  - wincy 3y ago
    Thanks for sharing. I'll definitely keep an eye on it. I think due to risks risk now (or trying to have the biggest impact) things are being focused on those with cervical spine injuries whereas hers is in the lumbar section.
caycep 3y ago
The weird thing about Neuralink...they should have a heavy presence at things like SFN where there are a ton of BCI/BMI and neurophysiology posters and papers being presented, and where anyone who's anyone is there to keep tabs on the latest and greatest and what everyone else is doing. But...there was zero presence. Zilch. Nada. Whereas the only think Neuralink is known for is its director of operations having twins w/ Elon...
- thelastquestion 3y ago
  You might be happy to hear that while it was low-key, Neuralink did have some presence at SfN and had a joint poster there with University College London.
hmate9 3y ago
Serious question: Why wouldn’t Elon just fund it all himself? $43M is 0.02% of his net worth.
- gregwebs 3y ago
  Capital gains tax. His wealth is tied up in his other companies.

44 points by webmaven 3y ago

> Founded in 2016, Neuralink has devised a sewing machine-like device capable of implanting ultra-thin threads inside the brain. I know people get elective surgeries all the time (plastics, etc), but I feel hard pressed that this company is going to convince people to open up their skull for some promise of cool technology. Even if it is successful from a technology perspective, the chicken and egg problem they'll face with developers is an order of magnitude or two higher than with AR/VR headsets. It's already an uphill battle without having to convince people to open up their brain, I just can't see this gaining any adoption unless there's a surgery-lite path outside the skull.

askonomm 3y ago
I think you underestimate what people with disabilities are willing to try to lessen their disabilities. This isn't for making people pretty, it's to (potentially) help people lead mostly normal lives. Similar things that are currently on market are way more invasive than what Neuralink wants to offer, so it would already be a major upgrade, and look mostly normal from the outside.
- LightBug1 3y ago
  Unfortunately, that's always the promise. To make the better world. But the money and investment will quickly and increasingly focus elsewhere once the concept is proven.
  - CamelCaseName 3y ago
    Will it? I can think of quite a few initiatives which have taken in countless billions of dollars, cancer research, Alzheimer's, Dementia, Cystic Fibrosis, etc. Nothing sexy about that at all, just helping people lead normal lives.
    - LightBug1 3y ago
      Those are all 'good' causes by definition with gradual progress. Here, the snake oil is in the comments similar to 'Neuralink will help disabled people'. But Neuralink so so wide spectrum that, if it works, it will spawn multiple different industries. And capital will find it's way to the most lucrative applications, as it always does ... and those applications won't be 'helping disable people'.
- caycep 3y ago
  erm, if their latest "cranioplasty w/ eCoG" thing that's being rumored is real, that's way more invasive than the current deep brain stimulation or utah array systems...
javajosh 3y ago
>sewing machine-like device Unless my brain has a bobbin in it, it probably doesn't work like a modern sewing machine.
- stevecat 3y ago
  You have to pass a loop of wire up your nose.
- bch 3y ago
  > Unless my brain has a bobbin in it This is your brain on dance music
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

varelse 3y ago

[dead]

loufe 3y ago

Elon's ability to find willing sources of capital for his ventures seems nothing short of incredible. He has clearly deservedly earned a reputation for delivering, but some projects seem tangential and lacking his attention, and they are fully funded nevertheless. He really sets the bar high for being a mover. That's not to avoid discussing the animal welfare concerns that merit attention, though. One can only speculate what's going on in the man's head at any given point, but I wonder where the truth lies in his pressuring for results. In any case, it reminds me of the story from the KingKiller Chronicles of the member of the Amyr who killed tens of thousands of peasants in unethical medical experiments hundreds of years before the story of Kvolthe. Kvolthe reflects on the balances of lives saved with the medical knowledge gained, systemetized, and shared through those medical experiments, the balance being -to his estimate- positive.

wslh 3y ago
> Elon's ability to find willing sources of capital for his ventures seems nothing short of incredible. I think it is just a message via WhatsApp or other messaging app? I also wonder if he just has a group with many VCs and broadcast the message there. I simplify the founding process in two group of founders: the ones for mere mortals and the ones that are oversubscribed and people ask YOU in random places if you have some access to the deal with dilated pupils.
rapsey 3y ago
> He has clearly deservedly earned a reputation for delivering, Which is why his ability to find sources of capital is not surprising in the least.
- caycep 3y ago
  he delivers if he has a good partner to keep him grounded...or is good enough to manage things when he's gone. Tesla: Eberhard and Terpenning SpaceX: Gwynne Shotwell, above all, but also Cantrell and Mueller. vs. say - the Boring Company - what have they done recently that wasn't a joke? I'd say I'd be more confident of Neuralink if someone who actually knows about BCI/BMI were involved, like I'd like to see names like Rich Andersen, Doris Tsao, or someone from the late Krisha Shenoy's lab involved...

wincy 3y ago

My daughter is five years old. She’s smart and adorable and can really turn on the charm. We went on vacation and she asked whole families “what’s your name” and introduced herself. Unfortunately she had the bad fortune of being born with the bottom of her spinal cord outside of her body. She can’t walk, and she can’t control her bowels and bladder. She has a port in her skull, a brain shunt, that moves the cerebrospinal fluid into her belly which is extremely important for her continued wellbeing. Her prognosis at this point is she should be able to live into her sixties or seventies with modern medical technology. But with modern technology she’ll never be able to walk. I’m really hopeful that one day Neuralink will let my child walk. Things like this give me hope when I feel depressed about her quality of life or how she’ll be treated as an adult.

caycep 3y ago
Why wait? There are brain-machine interface trials already underway w/ BRAINGATE and other university consortiums
- dpflan 3y ago
  (Was creating my comment seconds before yours). Indeed, I just posted a link to that project.
- wincy 3y ago
  Thanks, I'll look into it. A lot of what I've seen so far is restricted to adults (for obvious reasons).
dpflan 3y ago
Thank you for sharing this. I believe there is more research into BCI and motor-control, for example this project: BrainGate (https://www.braingate.org/ https://www.braingate.org/). Whatever becomes commercialized will be interesting, but the field is progressing.
- wincy 3y ago
  Thanks for sharing. I'll definitely keep an eye on it. I think due to risks risk now (or trying to have the biggest impact) things are being focused on those with cervical spine injuries whereas hers is in the lumbar section.

caycep 3y ago

The weird thing about Neuralink...they should have a heavy presence at things like SFN where there are a ton of BCI/BMI and neurophysiology posters and papers being presented, and where anyone who's anyone is there to keep tabs on the latest and greatest and what everyone else is doing. But...there was zero presence. Zilch. Nada. Whereas the only think Neuralink is known for is its director of operations having twins w/ Elon...

thelastquestion 3y ago
You might be happy to hear that while it was low-key, Neuralink did have some presence at SfN and had a joint poster there with University College London.

hmate9 3y ago

Serious question: Why wouldn’t Elon just fund it all himself? $43M is 0.02% of his net worth.

gregwebs 3y ago
Capital gains tax. His wealth is tied up in his other companies.