Elon Musk's Neuralink brain chip has a 'rival' promising "non-invasive" tech that will allow you to control your dreams.
The Tesla tycoon is launching a six-year clinical trial of his "brain-computer interface" after getting the all-clear earlier this year. Musk claimed last month more than 5000 people had put themselves forward to receive the implant.
Now an apparent opponent has emerged. Artificial intelligence company Prophetic promises to give people the ability to "stabilise" sleep and "induce lucid dreaming" – a state that sees dreamers become aware they're asleep.
READ MORE: Crooks flog aggressive and disease-ridden 'lab monkeys' for £16k on black market
For more of the latest news from the Daily Star, click here.
In some cases this can even allow them to influence what happens in their dreams. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the organisation wrote: "We are a non-invasive neurotech company building a device to induce and stabilise lucid dreams."
In order to bring on this state of lucid dreaming, sleepers wear a device called The Halo around their head at night. "The design is a testament to the symbiotic relationship we have fostered between wearer and Halo," the company said.
"With it, we will pursue the answers to life's biggest questions."
Hovercars ready by 2073 according to AI which predicts 'incredible speeds'
The company launched its "ultrasound study" this summer and is recruiting volunteers. Each participant will get a headset and access to an app, which Prophetic hopes will encourage people to sign up to contribute towards the "largest EEG (electroencephalogram) dataset on lucid dreams."
If all goes to plan, the nifty headsets will be shipped to customers in the Spring of 2025. Keen dreamers can already reserve a device despite its launch being a year and a half away.
The company also has an interesting tie to Neuralink. The chip was designed by tech brand Card79, headed up by Afshin Mehin – which also designed The Halo.
Join the Daily Star's WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more
The Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!
Through the app, we'll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.
To join our community, all you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in!
No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Musk is looking to recruit paralysed volunteers for the first stage of his human trials. The Daily Star previously revealed the company's initial goal is to give people with quadriplegia – paralysis below the neck affecting both arms and legs – the "ability to control their computers and mobile devices" using their thoughts.
But ambitions for the start-up don't stop there. The chip hopes to "restore capabilities" in people with other health issues, including problems with motor function, vision and speech.
Neuroscientist Philip Sabes, who founded Neuralink with Musk, even claimed the chip could one day have mood-boosting effects and may be used to treat mental health issues such as depression. "This might sound like it’s getting towards sci-fi," he said. "But the idea that you can wake up and dial up your mood is something that might be a possibility."
But Musk's brainchild has already hit bumps in the road. A Wired investigation found as many as a dozen macaque monkeys suffered chronic infections, paralysis, brain swelling, and other horror side effects after receiving the chip.
"Patients should have serious concerns about the safety of Neuralink’s device," Ryan Merkley, director of research advocacy at the the Physicians Committee, said. "There are well-documented reports of company employees conducting rushed, sloppy experiments in monkeys and other animals."
Musk has admitted monkeys died during clinical trials of his polarising product. However the SpaceX boss has denied the deaths were directly related to the Neuralink chip.
"No monkey has died as a result of a Neuralink implant," Musk previously posted to X.
Neuralink has been contacted for comment.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
Source: Read Full Article
