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Monkey MindPong

neuralink.com

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Re: Monkey MindPong

#13

I don't understand how you can gather such a targeted signal by sticking wires in just a few places. Like, you can't just tape a metal coat hanger to an iPhone and start getting text messages through it. But somehow you can put some wires just as few mm into the surface of a brain and extract fine motor signals??

My understanding is that neurons are like a higher-order connected mesh. A bit like many fully-connected layers in a Machine Learning model.

You can't just read fine motor signals from any neuron, but given enough neurons, since they're deeply connected, you can infer a close approximation of the intended motor signals given a known output. That's why they need a lot of sampling wires in the brain; to makes sure they have enough data to make that inference. Luckily, machine-learning is very good at figuring out patterns in this sort of data.

My guess is that they train an ML model using the inputs and outputs when the joystick is connected. Then they can use the trained model to just generate the output directly from the inputs when the joystick is disconnected.

This will work fine for one particular monkeybrain/interface combo; however, you cannot use the same model on other monkeys. You have to train a new one each time.

Re: Monkey MindPong

#14
Our brain interface tech is so primitive, but it holds incredible promise if we're able to solve it.

Imagine being able to virtualize consciousness, back up memories, live forever...

The problem is how invasive it is, and how little reward there is initially. We have to solve the chicken and egg problem, but unfortunately cracking open the skull and sticking electrodes into the brain is not something one typically wants to do if they're conscious about their health.

I hope we can gain traction with medical applications and then begin to make steady advances. It'd be neat to have fully virtual, synthetic senses before we die.

Re: Monkey MindPong

#15
post #13

I don't understand how you can gather such a targeted signal by sticking wires in just a few places. Like, you can't just tape a metal coat hanger to an iPhone and start getting text messages through it. But somehow you can put some wires just as few mm into the surface of a brain and extract fine motor signals??

My understanding is that neurons are like a higher-order connected mesh. A bit like many fully-connected layers in a Machine Learning model. You can't just read fine motor signals from any neuron, but given enough neurons, since they're deeply connected, you can infer a close approximation of the intended motor signals given a known output. That's why they need a lot of sampling wires in the brain; to makes sure they…

> Like, you can't just tape a metal coat hanger to an iPhone and start getting text messages through it.

You could if we didn't encrypt connections.

On that note, does anyone know how to upgrade libssl across my entire nervous system?

Re: Monkey MindPong

#16

It looked like the dexterity of the mind was quicker than the dexterity of the hand.

Mind cursors seems amazing but I believe it must be very quickly exhausting hence preventing useful adoption for the mainstream.

To be fair, the same was said about touchscreens and VR.

Re: Monkey MindPong

#18
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding is that neurons are like a higher-order connected mesh. A bit like many fully-connected layers in a Machine Learning model. You can't just read fine motor signals from any neuron, but given enough neurons, since they're deeply connected, you can infer a close approximation of the intended motor signals given a known output. That's why they need a lot of sampling wires in the brain; to makes sure they…

> Like, you can't just tape a metal coat hanger to an iPhone and start getting text messages through it. You could if we didn't encrypt connections. On that note, does anyone know how to upgrade libssl across my entire nervous system?

> On that note, does anyone know how to upgrade libssl across my entire nervous system?

‘Inception’ shows someone who tries to do something like that, but there seems to be a vulnerability.

Re: Monkey MindPong

#19
I'm convinced that this type of technology + some advancements in kinetic technology will allow for artificial telekinesis in the future. I don't know if it will be in my lifetime, but I would love to control it.

It could be billed based on the energy required to translate the objects.

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