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Welcome, humans.

Mind-controlled computers? Restoring movement after paralysis? This isn't sci-fi anymore! Cache Cookies delivers your weekly dose of groundbreaking tech news, cool apps, brain-boosting knowledge, the latest on AI, and the lowdown on AI's wild side.

What You Need to Know About AI this week

• Neuralink turns sci-fi into reality: Telepathic computer control! Your move, future! 👾

• Walking again after paralysis? Science is turning the impossible into reality. ✨ 💪

• It's official: The AI Act is here. What does it mean for you? ⚖️

The Revolution of Human-Machine Interactions

Have you seen the monkey playing a computer game with its mind? That was Pager, three years ago, the first user of Neuralink's brain-computer interface (BCI), a product of Elon Musk's neurotechnology startup. Pager's brain implant, surgically placed using a specialized robot, allows for wireless communication with computers and the Neuralink app. As Musk described it, think of Neuralink like a "Fitbit in your skull."

Just last week, Neuralink made headlines with its first successful human clinical trial. Nolan Arbaugh, a 29-year-old with quadriplegia, played online chess using only his thoughts! In a short video, Arbaugh demonstrated the ability to control a computer cursor through thought and expressed excitement about the device's potential to significantly improve his quality of life.

The technology developed by Elon Musk’s startup has the potential to be a true medical marvel, restoring sight, hearing, speech, and mobility to those with disabilities. Imagine – the blind regaining sight, the paralyzed walking again.

However, Neuralink's ambitions extend beyond medical treatment. Musk envisions healthy individuals enhancing their communication with BCIs to keep pace with rapidly advancing AI. Our current "bandwidth" for exchanging information, limited by speech and typing, is a mere 40 bits per second – incredibly slow compared to computers. Musk believes Neuralink could increase this bandwidth by a factor of 1,000. Imagine being mugged and needing to describe the assailant's face to a sketch artist. Today, you'd rely on words, a process often inaccurate and painfully slow due to the limitations of verbal communication. Neuralink envisions increasing our communication bandwidth, potentially allowing us to share thoughts and images directly via mind-to-mind communication. This could transform how you describe the assailant, providing the sketch artist with a precise visual representation from your mind.

Pioneering Work in Switzerland

While Musk's advancements are impressive, it's important to note that he isn't the only one with big achievements in this field. Last year, researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne published a study in Nature Magazine detailing their major breakthrough: developing a "brain-spine interface" that allowed a paralyzed man to walk again. Similar to Neuralink's goals, their system creates a direct link between the brain and spinal cord. It uses two electronic implants – one on the brain, and the other on the spinal cord. Advanced AI algorithms decode movement intentions from the brain's signals in real-time. These intentions are then wirelessly translated into sequences of electrical stimulation for the spine, activating the necessary leg muscles for movement. It's a truly incredible digital bridge, allowing the patient freedom of movement!

Why Does It Matter to Me?

Neurotechnology, carefully regulated and ethically used, offers extraordinary potential to revolutionize medical treatments. It can restore movement for those with paralysis, treat neurological disorders, and even combat conditions like depression. The success of projects like NeuroRestore at EPFL showcase how this technology can transform lives for the better. Imagine the impact if neurotechnology could restore sight, treat chronic pain, or help manage severe mental illness.

Where are the Cache 🦎 Cookies 🍪?

The very power of neurotechnology to access and influence the human mind raises critical safety and ethical concerns. As highlighted at the UNESCO International Conference on the Ethics of Neurotechnology in Paris (listen to the relevant podcasts here), potential misuse underscores the dangers of this technology falling into the wrong hands. This misuse could include privacy violations through unauthorized access to thoughts or emotions, or manipulation and control over individuals' actions without consent.

Neuralink envisions enhancements beyond medical needs, aiming to augment healthy individuals. This ambition, coupled with the market's rapid growth – a staggering 700% increase in neurotech investments from 2014 to 2021, totalling USD 33.2 billion – amplifies the urgency for strong oversight.

Direct Neuralink U.S. competitors such as Paradromics, Precision Neuroscience, and Synchron promote their technology with ambitious slogans like "Connecting the human brain. What if we could restore or enhance function using the power of advanced computing and AI?" While the possibilities such as reading somebody’s else thoughts – are tantalizing, there are serious risks. How would society handle discriminatory access, or individuals losing control over their own minds? There's an urgent need for a robust ethical and regulatory framework to ensure this powerful technology is used responsibly, protecting mental privacy, autonomy, and human dignity.

EU Passes Landmark AI Law – What You Need to Know

It's Official: The EU's AI Act is here! After years of debate, the sweeping new law regulating AI passed its final hurdle. Get ready for changes. Here's what you need to know:

Some Creepy AI is Getting Banned

• Ban of AI that manipulates you, exploits kids, or makes unfair decisions (like in healthcare). It means that AI systems used in critical areas like healthcare, education, and law enforcement face strict requirements for data quality, accuracy, and human oversight.

• Forget real-time facial recognition in public – it's mostly banned (except for serious crime cases, which is still controversial and debated among civil rights groups).

No More Sneaky AI

• Companies have to tell you when you're dealing with a chatbot or AI-generated content. This helps fight fake news!

• Tech giants will need to track how their powerful AI is created, making everything more accountable.

You Have a Voice!

• Worried about how an AI system made a decision? The new European AI Office lets you raise concerns and get answers.

• This is great, but we need to understand how AI works to use this power effectively. That's where Cache Cookie comes in – read us every week for clear explanations of AI and click below to share with anyone who might be interested!

From a business perspective, the EU's emerging AI legislation raises various concerns and potential issues, particularly regarding its vague definitions and potential impact on innovation and competitiveness. We will explore the implications of this legislation for the business world in the next Cache Cookies publication.

Job opportunities

That's it for now! Want more tasty AI insights? Visit our website and connect with us on LinkedIn @Mila and @Zeynep. While you're there, consider spreading the word – share Cache Cookies with all your friends and colleagues who also like to stay sharp!

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