Ethical Considerations of Neuralink and Brain-Computer Interfaces

doi:10.1007/s10439-024-03511-2

. 2024 Aug;52(8):1937-1939.

doi: 10.1007/s10439-024-03511-2. Epub 2024 Apr 11.

Ethical Considerations of Neuralink and Brain-Computer Interfaces

Ethan Waisberg¹, Joshua Ong², Andrew G Lee^{3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. ew690@cam.ac.uk.
² Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
³ Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
⁵ The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
⁶ Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
⁷ Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
⁸ University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
⁹ Texas A&M College of Medicine, Bryan, TX, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.

PMID: 38602573
DOI: 10.1007/s10439-024-03511-2

Ethical Considerations of Neuralink and Brain-Computer Interfaces

Ethan Waisberg et al. Ann Biomed Eng. 2024 Aug.

. 2024 Aug;52(8):1937-1939.

doi: 10.1007/s10439-024-03511-2. Epub 2024 Apr 11.

Authors

Ethan Waisberg¹, Joshua Ong², Andrew G Lee^{3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. ew690@cam.ac.uk.
² Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
³ Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
⁵ The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
⁶ Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
⁷ Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
⁸ University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
⁹ Texas A&M College of Medicine, Bryan, TX, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.

PMID: 38602573
DOI: 10.1007/s10439-024-03511-2

Erratum in

Correction: Ethical Considerations of Neuralink and Brain-Computer Interfaces.
Waisberg E, Ong J, Lee AG. Waisberg E, et al. Ann Biomed Eng. 2024 Aug;52(8):1940. doi: 10.1007/s10439-024-03524-x. Ann Biomed Eng. 2024. PMID: 38656638 No abstract available.

Abstract

Neuralink is a neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk in 2016, which has been quietly developing revolutionary technology allowing for ultra-high precision bidirectional communication between external devices and the brain. In this paper, we explore the multifaceted ethical considerations surrounding neural interfaces, analyzing potential societal impacts, risks, and call for a need for responsible innovation. Despite the technological, medical, medicolegal, and ethical challenges ahead, neural interface technology remains extremely promising and has the potential to create a new era of medicine.

Keywords: Brain-computer interface; Brain-machine; Invasive; Microimplants; Neural interface; Neural prosthesis; Neurology; Neurosurgery; Neurotechnology; Ophthalmology.

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References

1. Neuralink, Musk E. An Integrated Brain-Machine Interface Platform With Thousands of Channels. J Med Internet Res. 21(10):16194, 2019. https://doi.org/10.2196/16194 - DOI
1. Neuralink livestream shows paralyzed person playing chess on laptop. NBC News. Published March 20, 2024. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/neuralink-livestream-shows-paraly...
1. Griffin A. Elon Musk says he is curing blindness with brain computer chips. Published March 21, 2024. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-blindsight-...
1. Kelly A. U.S. regulators rejected Elon Musk’s bid to test brain chips in humans, citing safety risks. Reuters. Published March 2, 2023. Accessed March 26, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/neuralink-musk-fda/
1. Alser, M., and E. Waisberg. Concerns with the usage of ChatGPT in Academia and Medicine: A viewpoint. American Journal of Medicine Open. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajmo.2023.100036 . - DOI

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[1] Neuralink, Musk E. An Integrated Brain-Machine Interface Platform With Thousands of Channels. J Med Internet Res. 21(10):16194, 2019. https://doi.org/10.2196/16194 - DOI

[2] Neuralink, Musk E. An Integrated Brain-Machine Interface Platform With Thousands of Channels. J Med Internet Res. 21(10):16194, 2019. https://doi.org/10.2196/16194 - DOI

[3] Neuralink livestream shows paralyzed person playing chess on laptop. NBC News. Published March 20, 2024. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/neuralink-livestream-shows-paraly...

[4] Neuralink livestream shows paralyzed person playing chess on laptop. NBC News. Published March 20, 2024. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/neuralink-livestream-shows-paraly...

[5] Griffin A. Elon Musk says he is curing blindness with brain computer chips. Published March 21, 2024. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-blindsight-...

[6] Griffin A. Elon Musk says he is curing blindness with brain computer chips. Published March 21, 2024. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-blindsight-...

[7] Kelly A. U.S. regulators rejected Elon Musk’s bid to test brain chips in humans, citing safety risks. Reuters. Published March 2, 2023. Accessed March 26, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/neuralink-musk-fda/

[8] Kelly A. U.S. regulators rejected Elon Musk’s bid to test brain chips in humans, citing safety risks. Reuters. Published March 2, 2023. Accessed March 26, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/neuralink-musk-fda/

[9] Alser, M., and E. Waisberg. Concerns with the usage of ChatGPT in Academia and Medicine: A viewpoint. American Journal of Medicine Open. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajmo.2023.100036 . - DOI

[10] Alser, M., and E. Waisberg. Concerns with the usage of ChatGPT in Academia and Medicine: A viewpoint. American Journal of Medicine Open. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajmo.2023.100036 . - DOI

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Ethical Considerations of Neuralink and Brain-Computer Interfaces

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Ethical Considerations of Neuralink and Brain-Computer Interfaces

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