Neuralink to start trials on humans
An Elon Musk-backed company called Neuralink that develops microscopic brain implants that communicate with machines, announced last night in a presentation that it’s aiming to start trials on humans by the end of next year.
The goal here is for humans and AI to co-exist and for the technology to do things like enhance human functionality, help paraplegics control robots with their minds and blind people get their sight back.
It’s not alone in this field as there are a number of other companies emerging that are being funded by the likes of Facebook and Amazon, among others.
Neuralink announced a number of exciting new developments in the presentation, but acknowledged that it has not yet sought approval from the FDA – so these advances will take some time to become reality.
However, if they do, wouldn’t it be great!
EU investigation into Amazon
The second thing I wanted to mention today is the EU formally launching an investigation into how Amazon uses data from third party sellers on its websites.
EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager will be heading things up and has form in punishing the likes of Facebook and Google.
Brussels has been looking into Amazon’s business practices since last year given that it is often competition to the very vendors that use its website, but a full formal investigation may or may not lead to fines or a forcible change in business practices.
I have no doubt that this will be brought up in trade negotiations between the EU and the US and forms part of the current movement against the burgeoning power of Big Tech.
