After Neuralink, Max Hodak is building something even wilder (techcrunch.com)

Max Hodak, co-founder and CEO of Science Corp., is pursuing groundbreaking advancements in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology beyond his work with Neuralink. His new venture has secured $260 million in funding and aims to commercialize a procedure called Prima, which involves a tiny computer chip implanted in the retina to restore vision for patients with advanced macular degeneration. Clinical trials indicate that 80% of participants regained the ability to read, marking a significant milestone in BCI applications. This technology represents not just an engineering feat of miniaturization and reduced infection risk, but also sets the stage for future innovations such as optogenetic gene therapy, which could enable direct control of neurons with light. Looking ahead, Hodak envisions even more ambitious goals, including the potential to grow new brain tissue and explore the frontiers of consciousness itself. He believes that understanding and manipulating the brain's architecture could lead to revolutionary outcomes, where consciousness might transcend traditional boundaries, allowing for collaborative cognitive experiences among humans and machines. By 2035, he predicts that biohybrid neural interfaces will be available to patients, fundamentally reshaping our interaction with technology and each other. Hodak’s work is significant for the AI/ML community as it bridges neuroscience with advanced engineering and opens the door to transformative applications that could redefine human capabilities.