Can we redraw the boundaries of the brain to include a group of people? Max Hodak thinks so. His new company, Science Corp., is not just treating blindness; it is planning a future where our minds are uploaded into “the Matrix.”
Article contents:
- Introduction
- The “Prima” vision restoration project
- Gene therapy and optogenetics
- Cultivating new brain tissue
- The end game: merging consciousness
- Frequently asked questions
Introduction
After leaving Neuralink, the company he co-founded with Elon Musk, Max Hodak is building something arguably even wilder at his new venture, Science Corp. The company has raised $260 million and is quietly working on technologies that it claims could reshape human consciousness itself. Unlike many brain-computer interface (BCI) companies still in the research phase, Hodak’s company is closing in on a commercial product.
The “Prima” vision restoration project
The initial product is Prima, a computer chip smaller than a grain of rice implanted directly into the retina. Paired with camera-equipped glasses, the technology restores “form vision” for people with advanced macular degeneration, enabling 80% of patients in trials to read again. Hodak expects to launch the product next summer in Europe.
Gene therapy and optogenetics
The next, more ambitious step is gene therapy using “optogenetics”—making neurons sensitive to light to control them instead of using electrodes. The company aims to bypass dead cells in the retina and directly stimulate the remaining cells using advanced light-sensitive proteins.
Cultivating new brain tissue
However, Hodak’s ambition does not stop there. The long game is finding a way to grow new brain tissue. The company has tested a “waffle grid”-like device that sits on the surface of the brain, containing engineered neurons that grow and send connections (axons and dendrites) into the brain to link with existing neural circuits. This circumvents the tissue damage caused by implanting electrodes.
The end game: merging consciousness
Hodak believes the ultimate goal of brain interfaces is “conscious machines.” He discusses redrawing the boundaries of the brain to include devices or even groups of people, pointing to the possibility of “hive minds” or merging consciousness with machines to overcome death and disease. He predicts that by 2035 these interfaces will be available to patients, and by the late 2040s they could become widespread, raising profound ethical and economic questions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Science Corp. and Neuralink?
Science Corp. focuses on the eye, gene therapy, and tissue implants rather than solely implanting electrodes.
Can this technology restore sight to the blind?
Yes, trials have demonstrated success in enabling blind individuals to read text and distinguish shapes.
What are the ethical concerns?
They relate to the cost of the technology, which may be accessible only to the wealthy, and the concept of merging human consciousness with machines.
