Scientists Invent "Sewing Machine" to Implant Brain Electrodes

The team is tied to Elon Musk, who recently teased an upcoming Neuralink update.

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A group of DARPA-funded scientists associated with Elon Musk say they've invented a new way to "rapidly implant" brain electrodes into rats — and their "sewing machine" implantation system could facilitate the creation of a mind-reading brain-computer interface, as first reported by Bloomberg.

"Although more research is needed to refine the overall interface system and better integrate its components, these developments may ultimately open the possibility of bundling next-generation robotics, AI software, and electronics to create alternatives to present-day neurosurgical techniques," DARPA biotech director Justin Sanchez told Bloomberg.

Musk-eteers

The team's paper, published on the preprint server bioRxiv, is notable because of Musk's founding role in Neuralink, a secrecy-shrouded venture that aims to build a brain-computer interface.

All the new paper's authors — who declined to comment to Bloomberg — have been employed by or associated with Neuralink, according to the magazine.

The report is especially intriguing, Bloomberg pointed out, in light of a tweet this week in which Musk teased a Neuralink update "in a few months."

READ MORE: Team Linked to Elon Musk Edges Closer to Brain Computers [Bloomberg]

More on Neuralink: Here’s Everything You Need to Know about Elon Musk’s Human/AI Brain Merge