Why Did Neuralink Co-Founder and President Leave the Brain Implant Company?

Neuralink is founded by Elon Musk and Max Hodak and it aims to create brain implants that will help treat severe diseases and eventually develop human enhancement or transhumanism.

The brain-computer interface company has faced challenges throughout the years with people questioning its technology because it has yet to produce any technology that the public could buy and use.

It has met controversies, especially with Elon Musk's claims, that other scientists and institutions think that its latest project is a "neuroscience theater."

Could this have led Neuralink's co-founder and president Max Hodak's decision to leave?

Reason Remains a Mystery

In his Twitter post on Saturday, May 1, Hodak announced that he is no longer part of the company for a few weeks now. He added that he learned "a ton" at the company and he remains a "huge cheerleader" for the brain-computer interface company.

However, the former Neuralink president did not add any information as to where he was going next. Gizmodo reported that the reason for Hodak's departure from the company remains a mystery.

But he seemed to cross out the idea of making "Jurassic Park" a reality in his response to one of the comments. Hodak said a few weeks ago that Neuralink has the capability of creating super exotic dinosaurs with 15 years of breeding and engineering, Science Times previously reported.

It is not yet certain as to what degree Neuralink will be affected after Hodak left, although the timing is not ideal. Neuralink just recently demonstrated its implant technology with a monkey that they claimed to be close to a finished product.

But this does not also mean that the company is in trouble with Hodak's exit. Although some say it could complicate attempts of translating the company's work into practical products, Engadget reported.

Skeptics' Take on Neuralink

After the August 2020 demo of Neuralink, MIT Technology Review said that the brain-computer interface company is a "neuroscience theater."

The review noted that even after four years since Neuralink's formation in 2016, it has yet proven that it can or have treatment depression, insomnia, or a dozen other diseases that Musk claims it can treat.

Elon Musk has no background in neuroscience but a project director at Neuralink said that the company is active in trying to help the engineering challenges that Neuralink faces.

Anna Wexler, a neuro-ethicist who wrote an op-ed last April 7, 2021, on the medical news site StatNews, said that company demos live-streamed on YouTube are optimistic in proclaiming a future that is yet available but one that is sure will come to pass.

"Data are sparse; rhetoric about making the world a better place is heavy," she said.

In response, Musk wrote on Twitter that Neuralink product would someday help a person with paralysis use a smartphone with their mind that is faster than using thumbs. He added that later versions will also help paraplegics to walk again.

But like the live-streamed YouTube video, he did not provide evidence and timeline of when this technology will come to reality.

Check out more news and information on Neuralink on Science Times.