2019年经济学人 埃隆·马斯克的脑机接口(2)（在线收听）

The firm has also designed a chip that can handle signals from as many as 3,072 electrodes

该公司还设计了一种芯片，可以处理多达3072个电极发出的信号

—30 times more than current systems—and transmit them wirelessly.

—是目前系统的30多倍—并将它们无线传输。

The real magic, however, kicks in only when the output is analysed—which happens in real time.

然而，真正的魔力只有在分析输出时才会发挥作用——这是实时发生的。

Looked at superficially, neurons in the brain seem to fire at random.

从表面上看，大脑中的神经元似乎是随机放电的。

Software can, though, detect patterns when the individual those neurons are in does certain things.

不过，当这些神经元所在的个体在做某些事情时，软件可以检测出它们的模式。

Stick enough electrodes into someone's motor cortex, for instance,

例如，在人的运动皮层中植入足够的电极，

and it is possible to record what happens in the brain when he types on a keyboard or moves a mouse around.

当他在键盘上敲字或是移动鼠标的时候可以记录他的大脑发生了什么。

Those data can then be used to control a computer directly. Conversely, the electrodes can be employed to stimulate neurons,

这些数据可以用来直接控制电脑。相反，电极可以用来刺激神经元，

perhaps to give the person in question the feeling of touching something.

也许是为了给上述问题中的人一种触摸的感觉。

Neuralink has already tested its system successfully on rats and monkeys. These were, it says, able to move cursors on screens with it.

Neuralink已经在老鼠和猴子身上成功测试了它的系统。其表示它们能够用该系统在屏幕上移动光标。

The firm now hopes to work with human volunteers, perhaps as early as next year should America's Food and Drug Administration play along.

现在公司希望能和人类自愿者合作，也许最早在明年，美国食品和药物管理局就应该参与其中。

The first goal is to use the technology to help people overcome such ailments as blindness and paralysis.

第一个目标是用这项技术帮助人们克服失明和瘫痪等疾病。

Neuralink is, however, clearly aiming for a bigger market than this.

但Neuralink的目标显然是更大的市场。

It has also designed a small device that would sit behind someone's ear,

公司还设计了一款小型设备，可以放在人耳后

picking up signals from the implanted chip and passing them on as appropriate.

从植入芯片中获取信号，并将其适当地传递下去。

In a few years, using a brain implant to control your devices may be as de rigueur among San Francisco's techno-chics as wearing wireless earbuds is today.

在几年内，使用大脑植入来控制你的设备或许就会像现在佩戴无线耳机一样成为旧金山科技潮人的必备之物。

Ultimately, Mr Musk predicts, neural lace will allow humans to merge with AI systems, thus enabling the species to survive.

马斯克预测，最终，神经蕾丝将使人类与人工智能系统融合，从而使物种得以生存。

Though, as this announcement shows, Mr Musk does have a habit of presenting himself as the saviour of the human race

不过，正如上述声明所示，马斯克确实有一个习惯，就是把自己塑造成人类的救世主

(his desire to settle Mars seems motivated partly by fear of what might, in the future, happen to Earth),

（他定居火星的愿望似乎部分是出于对未来可能发生在地球上的事情的恐惧），

the idea that some machines at least will come under the direct control of human brains seems plausible.

至少有一些机器将直接受人脑控制的想法似乎是可信的。

The biggest obstruction to this happening will probably not be writing the software needed to interpret brainwaves,

其最大的障碍可能不是编写解译脑电波所需的软件，

but rather persuading people that the necessary surgery, whether by sewing machine or otherwise, is actually a good idea.

而是说服人们，不论是用缝纫机还是其他方式，必要的手术其实是一个好主意。