You know how Elon Musk wanted to put computer chips in people’s brains? Another company beat him to it. Synchron has apparently developed a chip that can help people send e-mail and text messages with their thoughts. They implanted a small device in the brain of an ALS patient who, because of the disease, isn’t able to communicate with others. They haven’t commented on whether it has worked or not, but it’s actually not the first time they’ve done this. They already implanted these devices in four humans in Australia. Those 4 have been able to send messages on WhatsApp with their thoughts. They were given the okay for human trials in the US last year.
Elon’s company Neuralink wants to make a smaller, more power device that could let humans interact with all sorts of devices and each other using thoughts. His requires cutting away part of the skull. The Australian one does not.