Neuralink, the brain-computer interface startup founded by tech billionaire Elon Musk, is set to implant its device in a second human patient in the coming week. The development is a major step in the company’s goal of combining human intelligence with digital technology. Musk announced these plans during a broadcast on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where he also shared the ambitious goal of implanting the device in a “high single digit” number of patients by the end of the year.

During the broadcast, Musk and key executives of Neuralink discussed the capabilities and future prospects of their brain chip device. They highlighted the device’s potential in addressing serious neurological conditions such as paralysis and memory loss. The team highlighted the revolutionary impact of this technology, which aims to provide individuals with extraordinary abilities and improve human interaction with AI.

Talking about the initial implantation of the brain chip in an Arizona man named Noland Arbaugh, Musk and his team acknowledged the challenges and outlined their strategy to overcome these obstacles in future surgeries. One of the primary problems encountered was the retraction of the electrode threads from the brain tissue, which was thought to be partly due to air pockets. To address this, Neuralink plans to refine the insertion process to ensure more precise placement on the brain folds, thereby improving the performance and stability of the device.

Musk also spoke on the broader implications of Neuralink’s work, and the company’s role in mitigating long-term civilizational risks associated with AI. By creating a close symbiosis between human and digital intelligence, Neuralink aims to empower individuals with what Musk describes as “superpowers.”

In addition to these technological advancements, Musk reassured the public about the ethical concerns associated with Neuralink’s animal testing procedures. He emphasized the company’s commitment to animal welfare, saying, “We really do everything we can to maximize the welfare of animals.”

Looking to the future, Musk hinted at continued evolution of Neuralink’s technology, comparing brain chip upgrades to smartphone advancements. “You want the iPhone 15, not the iPhone 1,” he quipped, suggesting that future generations of the device would offer significant improvements and that patients with older models could potentially upgrade to newer versions.