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This is a '''timeline of {{w|Neuralink}}''', a {{w|San Francisco}}-based {{w|neurotechnology}} company founded by {{w|Elon Musk}} and others, which aims at developing [[w:brain implant|implantable]] {{w|brain–machine interface}}s (BMIs).
==Big picture==
| 2017 || Neuralink is announced publicly.
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| 2018 || Neuralink intends to conduct tests on animals. By late year, Elon Musk for the first time publicly invites people to apply for jobs at the company. He also announces Neuralink aspires to symbiotically merge human brains with a super digital intelligence.
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| 2019 ||A presentation of Neuralink is held, informing publicly on the latest news about the technology. The company cumulates US$158 million in funding and employs a staff of 90 people.|-| 2020 || Neuralink human test of brain-computer interface could start around this year.
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! Year !! Month and date !! Event type !! Details
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| 1970s || || Prelude || Research on {{w|brain–computer interface}}s begins at the {{w|University of California, Los Angeles}} (UCLA) under a grant from the {{w|National Science Foundation}}, followed by a contract from {{w|DARPA}}.<ref name="Vidal1">{{cite journal|pmid=4583653|doi=10.1146/annurev.bb.02.060173.001105|year=1973|last1=Vidal|first1=JJ|title=Toward direct brain-computer communication|volume=2|pages=157–80|journal=Annual Review of Biophysics and Bioengineering|issue=1}}</ref><ref name="Vidal2">{{cite journal|author=J. Vidal|title=Real-Time Detection of Brain Events in EEG|journal=IEEE Proceedings|year=1977|url=http://www.cs.ucla.edu/~vidal/Real_Time_Detection.pdf|volume=65|pages=633–641|doi=10.1109/PROC.1977.10542|issue=5}}</ref>|-| 1997 || || Prelude || Dr. Richard Norman at the {{w|University of Utah}} develops the Utah electrode array, a tiny piece of silicon, only a quarter of an inch on its side, with 256 electrodes that can be attached to the central nervous system to listen to neural activity.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Markman |first1=Jon |title=Elon Musk's Other Big Start-Up, Neuralink, Is Gaining Momentum |url=https://www.thestreet.com/investing/stocks/elon-musk-neuralink-gains-momentum-15072786 |website=thestreet.com |accessdate=2 September 2019}}</ref>|-| 1998 || || Prelude || The first sensor is implanted in the brain of a paralyzed patient. Since then, at least about a dozen people would receive similar implants.<ref name="Elon Musk's dreams of merging AI and brains are likely to remain just that — for at least a decade">{{cite web |title=Elon Musk's dreams of merging AI and brains are likely to remain just that — for at least a decade |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/21/15370376/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-computer-ai-implant-neuroscience |website=theverge.com |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref> |-| 2009 || || Prelude || American inventor {{w|Raymond Kurzweil}} that by 2020 we’ll have "computers that are powerful enough to simulate the human brain. However, we won’t be finished yet with reverse engineering the human brain and understanding its methods".<ref name="Neuralink: How the Human Brain Will Download Directly from a Computer">{{cite web |title=Neuralink: How the Human Brain Will Download Directly from a Computer |url=https://interestingengineering.com/neuralink-how-the-human-brain-will-download-directly-from-a-computer |website=interestingengineering.com |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="The Coming Singularity">{{cite web |title=Ray Kurzweil: The Coming Singularity |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uIzS1uCOcE |website=youtube.com |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref>|-| 2011 || || Competition || {{w|Emotiv}} is founded as a US-based {{w|bioinformatics}} company which works in understanding the human brain using {{w|electroencephalography}} (EEG).<ref>{{cite web |title=Emotiv |url=https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/emotiv |website=crunchbase.com |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref> It would later be listed among the top Neuralink competitors.<ref name="Top 8 Neuralink Competitors Everyone Should Track"/> |-| 2015 || || Competition || BrainCo is founded. The company develops brain-machine interface (BMI) technology products including sensors, hardware, software, and {{w|AI}}. It would later be listed among the top Neuralink competitors.<ref name="Top 8 Neuralink Competitors Everyone Should Track">{{cite web |title=Top 8 Neuralink Competitors Everyone Should Track |url=https://www.analyticsindiamag.com/top-8-neuralink-competitors-everyone-should-track/ |website=analyticsindiamag.com |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref>|-| 2016 || June || Prelude || At Recode’s Code conference, South African entrepreneur {{w|Elon Musk}} discusses his "{{w|neural lace}}" proposal, a {{w|brain–computer interface}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk Full interview Code Conference 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsixsRI-Sz4 |website=youtube.com |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="Etherington">{{cite web |last1=Etherington |first1=Darrell |title=Elon Musk-backed Neuralink to detail its progress on upgrading the brain to keep pace with AI |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/12/elon-musk-backed-neuralink-to-detail-its-progress-on-upgrading-the-brain-to-keep-pace-with-ai/ |website=techcrunch.com |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref>|-| 2016 || July 11 || Launch || {{w|NeurlainkNeuralink}} is foundedby {{w|Elon Musk}}, Ben Rapoport, Dongjin Seo, Max Hodak, Paul Merolla, Philip Sabes, Tim Gardner, Tim Hanson, and Vanessa Tolosa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neuralink |url=https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/neuralink#section-lists-featuring-this-company |website=crunchbase.com |accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="LAT2017-04">{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-elon-musk-neuralink-20170421-htmlstory.html|title=A quick guide to Elon Musk's new brain-implant company, Neuralink|last=Masunaga|first=Samantha|date=21 April 2017|work={{w|Los Angeles Times}}}}</ref>|-| 2016 || || Competition || [[w:Kernel (neurotechnology company)|Kernel]] is founded. It builds advanced neural interfaces to treat disease, illuminate the mechanisms of intelligence, and extend cognition. It would later be listed among the top Neuralink competitors.<ref name="Top 8 Neuralink Competitors Everyone Should Track"/>|-| 2017 || January || Company || {{w|Elon Musk}} buys the name Neuralink from a pair of {{w|neurotechnology}} researchers that owned the trademark on "NeuraLink" since 2015 after creating their own startup company.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet the Guys Who Sold “Neuralink” to Elon Musk without Even Realizing It |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/604037/meet-the-guys-who-sold-neuralink-to-elon-musk-without-even-realizing-it/ |website=technologyreview.com |accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref> |-| 2017 || February || Research || Neuralink executive Jared Birchall submits a letter to the city of {{w|San Francisco}}'s planning department giving some clues about the company’s plans and files permit to build biological research lab.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk’s Neuralink files permit to build biological research lab |url=https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-neuralink-permits-biological-testing-lab/ |website=teslarati.com |accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref>|-| 2017 || February || Notable comment || {{w|Elon Musk}} claims that "people would need to become cyborgs to be relevant in an artificial intelligence age."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Isackson |first1=Peter |title=The Daily Devil’s Dictionary: Will “Everyone” Benefit? |url=https://www.fairobserver.com/region/north_america/elon-musk-artificial-intelligence-technology-news-headlines-96712/|website=fairobserver.com |accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk says plan to merge humans with machines is aimed at stopping a ‘Terminator’-style scenario |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/24/elon-musk-neuralink-ai-human-machine-terminator-skynet.html |website=cnbc.com |accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref> |-| 2017 || March 28 || Company || {{w|Elon Musk}} confirms the existence of {{w|Neuralink}}, and reveals that a longer story about Neuralink would appear on explainer website {{w|Wait But Why}} in a week.<ref>{{cite web | title= Neuralink | url=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/846580443797368832 |website=witter.com |accessdate=29 July 2019 |ref=Long Neuralink piece coming out on @waitbutwhy in about a week. Difficult to dedicate the time, but existential risk is too high not to.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Constine |first1=Josh |title=Elon Musk’s brain interface startup Neuralink files $27M fundraise |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/25/elon-musks-brain-interface-startup-neuralink-files-27m-fundraise/ |website=techcrunch.com |accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref>|-| 2017 || April 20 || Review || {{w|Wait But Why}} editor Tim Urban posts the first deep look at {{w|Neuralink}}, after Musk petition from about a month and a half before.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neuralink and the Brain’s Magical Future |url=https://waitbutwhy.com/2017/04/neuralink.html |website=waitbutwhy.com |accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref> Musk confirms plans for the company, revealing he will be the chief executive of a startup that aims to merge computers with brains so humans could one day engage in “consensual telepathy.”<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk Lays Out Plans to Meld Brains and Computers |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-lays-out-plans-to-meld-brains-and-computers-1492738741 |website=wsj.com |accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref>|-| 2017 || June || Research || Neuralink scientists start researching at the {{w|University of California, Davis}} campus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk's Neuralink Startup Planned to Test on Animals, Report Claims |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/42994-elon-musk-neuralink-testing |website=inverse.com |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref>
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| 2017 || January July 19 || Company || {{w|Elon Musk}} buys talks about {{w|Neuralink}} in an interview at the ISS R&D Conference in {{w|Washington, DC.}}, and says the name reason he went to create Neuralink was primarily as an offset to a pair of the existencial risk associated with {{w|neurotechnologyartificial intelligence}} researchers that owned the trademark on "NeuraLink" since 2015 after creating their own startup company.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet the Guys Who Sold “Neuralink” to Elon Musk without Even Realizing It - A.I., Biology, Neuralink |url=https://www.technologyreviewyoutube.com/s/604037/meet-the-guys-who-sold-neuralink-to-elon-musk-without-even-realizing-it/ watch?v=MbzVdUwPnrI |website=technologyreviewyoutube.com |accessdate=29 July 1 August 2019}}</ref>
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| 2017 || February August 25 || Company || Neuralink executive Jared Birchall submits a letter to the city of {{w|San FranciscoElon Musk}}'s planning department giving some clues about the company’s plans and files permit to build biological research labtweets: "Neuralink is not seeking investors."<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk’s Neuralink files permit to build biological research lab |urlname=https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-"neuralink-permits-biological-testing-labd"/ |website=teslarati.com |accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref>
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| 2017 2018 || March 28 || Notable comment || At a {{w|Elon MuskSouth by Southwest}} confirms the existence of tech conference in {{w|NeuralinkAustin, Texas}}, and reveals that a longer story about Neuralink would appear on explainer website {{w|Wait But WhyElon Musk}} in a week.<ref>calls {{cite web w| title= Neuralink | url=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/846580443797368832 |website=witter.com |accessdate=29 July 2019 |ref=Long Neuralink piece coming out on @waitbutwhy in about AI}} more dangerous than nuclear warheads and says there needs to be a week. Difficult to dedicate regulatory body overseeing the time, but existential risk is too high not todevelopment of super intelligence.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Constine |first1=Josh |title=Elon Musk’s brain interface startup Neuralink files $27M fundraise Musk: ‘Mark my words — A.I. is far more dangerous than nukes’ |url=https://techcrunchwww.cnbc.com/20172018/0803/2513/elon-musksmusk-at-sxsw-braina-interfacei-startupis-neuralinkmore-filesdangerous-27mthan-fundraise/ nuclear-weapons.html |website=techcrunchcnbc.com |accessdate=29 July 1 August 2019}}</ref>
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| 2017 2018 || April 20 March || Research || {{w|Wait But Why}} editor Tim Urban posts the first deep look at {{w|Report communicates that Neuralink}}, after Musk petition from about a month and a half beforehas plans to test products on animals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neuralink and the Brain’s Magical Future |url=https://waitbutwhy.com/2017/04/neuralink.html |website=waitbutwhy.com |accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref> Musk confirms plans Brain implants intended for the company, revealing he will be the chief executive of a startup that aims to merge computers with brains so humans could one day engage in “consensual telepathy.”<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk Lays Out Plans to Meld Brains and Computers be tested on animals |url=https://wwwendtimeheadlines.wsj.comorg/2018/articles03/elonbrain-muskimplants-laysintended-outfor-planshumans-to-meldbe-brainstested-andon-computers-1492738741 animals/ |website=wsjendtimeheadlines.com org |accessdate=29 July 23 September 2019}}</ref>
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| 2017 2018 || July 19 May || Funding || Neuralink agrees to fund primate research at the {{w|Elon MuskUniversity of California}} talks about {{. The company is expected to pay US$796,006 for research conducted at [[w:University of California, Davis|Neuralink}} in an interview at the ISS R&D Conference in UC Davis]]' {{w|Washington, DC.California National Primate Research Center}}, and says the reason he went to create Neuralink was primarily as an offset one of seven centers nationwide dedicated to the existencial risk associated with study of health and disease on primates.<ref>{{wcite web |title=Neuralink Is Funding Primate Research at the University of California |url=https://gizmodo.com/neuralink-is-funding-primate-research-at-the-university-1826205424 |website=gizmodo.com |artificial intelligenceaccessdate=29 July 2019}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk Neuralink - A.I., Biology, Neuralink UC Davis Primate Center - Services Agreement |url=https://www.youtubescribd.com/watchdocument/379906285/Neuralink-UC-Davis-Primate-Center-Services-Agreement?vcampaign=SkimbitLtd&ad_group=33330X911642Xbd980c46b67dbe987520610dbcbb787d&keyword=660149026&source=hp_affiliate&medium=MbzVdUwPnrI affiliate |website=youtubescribd.com |accessdate=1 August 29 July 2019}}</ref>
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| 2017 2018 || February November || Notable comment Company || In an interview with podcaster {{w|Joe Rogan}}, {{w|Elon Musk}} claims “that people would need says {{w|Neuralink}} aspires to become cyborgs to be relevant in an artificial symbiotically merge human brains with a super digital intelligence agethat will serve as a tertiary cognition layer augmenting the human cortex and limbic systems.“<ref>{{cite web |last1=Isackson |first1=Peter |title=The Daily Devil’s Dictionary: Will “Everyone” Benefit? Elon Musk on Joe Rogan - what is Neuralink |url=https://www.fairobserveryoutube.com/region/north_america/elon-musk-artificial-intelligence-technology-news-headlines-96712/watch?v=x5pgAM26wuM&t=63s |website=fairobserveryoutube.com |accessdate=29 July 1 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk says plan Musk’s Neuralink Plans to merge humans with machines is aimed at stopping a ‘Terminator’-style scenario Put Chips in Human Brains by 2020 |url=https://www.cnbcsyncedreview.com/20172019/0407/2417/elon-muskmusks-neuralink-aiplans-to-put-chips-in-human-machinebrains-terminatorby-skynet.html 2020/ |website=cnbcsyncedreview.com |accessdate=29 July 1 August 2019}}</ref>
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| 2018 || May November || Company || Neuralink agrees to fund primate research at the In an interview, {{w|University of CaliforniaElon Musk}}. The company i expected to pay US$796,006 for research conducted at [[hints that {{w:University of California, Davis|UC Davis]]' Neuralink}} would first introduce {{w|California National Primate Research Centermicrocontroller}}s to further advance computer-brain interface technology, one of seven centers nationwide dedicated to the study i.e., possibly unveiling an initial version of health and disease on primateswhat will eventually become a “neural lace.”<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk’s Neuralink Is Funding Primate Research at the University of California to livestream special project update on July 16 |url=https://gizmodowww.teslarati.com/neuralink-isproject-fundingdemo-primateevent-researchlivestream-atjuly-the-university-1826205424 16/ |website=gizmodoteslarati.com |accessdate=29 July 1 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Neuralink - UC Davis Primate Center - Services Agreement ELON MUSK LATEST INTERVIEW WITH AXIOS 25 NOVEMBER |url=https://www.scribdyoutube.com/document/379906285/Neuralink-UC-Davis-Primate-Center-Services-Agreementwatch?campaign=SkimbitLtd&ad_group=33330X911642Xbd980c46b67dbe987520610dbcbb787d&keyword=660149026&sourcev=hp_affiliate&medium=affiliate yQjUw16Mu_0 |website=scribdyoutube.com |accessdate=29 July 1 August 2019}}</ref>
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| 2018 || November 26 || Employment || In an interview with podcaster {{w|Joe Rogan}}, {{w|Elon Musk}} says tweets mentioning {{w|Neuralink}} aspires for the first time in 20 months, inviting people to symbiotically merge human brains with a super digital intelligence that will serve as a tertiary cognition layer augmenting apply for jobs at the human cortex and limbic systemsfirm alongside three of his other companies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk Breaks Twitter Silence on Joe Rogan Secretive A.I.- what is Brain Firm Neuralink |url=https://www.youtubeinverse.com/watch?v=x5pgAM26wuM&t=63s article/51228-elon-musk-breaks-twitter-silence-on-secretive-a-i-brain-firm-neuralink |website=youtubeinverse.com |accessdate=1 August 29 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk’s Neuralink Plans to Put Chips in Human Brains by 2020 |url=https://syncedreviewtwitter.com/2019/07elonmusk/17/elon-musks-neuralink-plans-to-put-chips-in-human-brains-by-2020status/ 1067173241800650752 |website=syncedreviewtwitter.com |accessdate=1 August 29 July 2019}}</ref>
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| 2018 2019 || November 26 May || Funding || {{w|Elon MuskBloomberg}} tweets mentioning {{w|reports on Neuralink}} for the first time in 20 months, inviting people to apply for jobs at the firm alongside three having raised US$39 million of his other companiesits planned US$51 million funding target.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk Breaks Twitter Silence on Secretive A.I.-Brain Firm 's Neuralink startup raises $39 MILLION as it seeks to develop tech that will connect the human brain with computers |url=https://wwwbak.inversemegam.cominfo/sciencetech/article-7025075/51228Elon-elonMusks-muskNeuralink-breaksstartup-twitterraises-silence39-on-secretiveMILLION-aseeks-idevelop-brain-firmcomputer-neuralink tech.html |website=inverse.com |accessdate=29 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Neuralink |url=https://twitterbak.com/elonmusk/status/1067173241800650752 |website=twittermegam.com info |accessdate=29 July 1 August 2019}}</ref>
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| 2019 || July 16 || Company || {{w|Elon Musk}} and {{w|Neuralink}} president Max Hodak host a presentation of the company in {{w|San Francisco}}, informing publicly on the latest news about the technology.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk’s Neuralink Presentation: Live Recap of What Happened |url=https://heavy.com/tech/2019/07/elon-musk-neuralink-presentation-recap/ |website=heavy.com |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref> |-| 2019 || July 18 || Company || {{w|Elon Musk}} tweets about Neuralink: "Addressing {{w|epilepsy}} is likely one of the more near-term applications".<ref name="neuralink d">{{cite web |title=elonmusk neuralink twitter |url=https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&q=from%3Aelonmusk+neuralink&src=typd&vertical=default |website=twitter.com |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref>|-| 2019 || Growth July || Funding || {{w|Neuralink}} cumulates US$158 million in funding (of which $100 million comes from Musk) and employs a staff of 90 employees.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/technology/neuralink-elon-musk.html|title=Elon Musk’s Company Takes Baby Steps to Wiring Brains to the Internet|last=Markoff|first=John|date=2019-07-16|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-07-17|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>|-| 2019 || August 28 || Notable comment || Elon Musk says during interview that computers are getting smarter, so much so that they could quickly surpass human intelligence "in every single way".<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk says computers will eventually surpass us in every single way |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/elon-musk-computers-will-surpass-us-jack-ma/ |website=digitaltrends.com |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk: Computers will surpass us ‘in every single way’ |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/28/elon-musk-computers-will-surpass-us-in-every-single-way.html |website=cnbc.com |accessdate=23 September 2019}}</ref>|-| 2019 || September 5 || Competition || American Internet entrepreneur {{w|Jag Singh}} publishes a project based on work at the {{w|MIT Media Lab}} to construct a {{w|brain–computer interface}} that allows users to telepathically query {{w|Google Search}}, anticipating Neuralink's BCI.<ref>{{cite web |title=Merging with AI: How to Make a Brain-Computer Interface to Communicate with Google using Keras and OpenBCI |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Neuralink/comments/czxkio/merging_with_ai_how_to_make_a_braincomputer/ |website=reddit.com |accessdate=6 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Merging with AI: How to Make a Brain-Computer Interface to Communicate with Google using Keras and OpenBCI |url=https://medium.com/swlh/merging-with-ai-how-to-make-a-brain-computer-interface-to-communicate-with-google-using-keras-and-f9414c540a92 |website=medium.com |accessdate=6 September 2019}}</ref>
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| 2020 || || {{w|Clinical trial}} || According to July 19 {{w|Elon Musk}}'s report, {{w|Neuralink}} human test of brain-computer interface could start around this year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk says Neuralink plans 2020 human test of brain-computer interface |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-neuralink-works-monkeys-human-test-brain-computer-interface-in-2020/ |website=cnet.com |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk’s Neuralink targets human trials for brain-machine interface in 2020 |url=https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-neuralink-human-trials-to-begin-in-2020/ |website=teslarati.com |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Elon Musk Plans to Start Putting Chips in Human Brains Next Year |url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/elon-musk-neuralink-2020/ |website=highsnobiety.com |accessdate=1 August 2019}}</ref>
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| 2029 || || Prediction || According to 2009 {{w|Raymond Kurzweil}} prediction, by this "scientists will have reverse-engineered, modeled and simulated all the regions of the brain. That will provide humans with the software and algorithmic methods to simulate all of the human brain's capabilities including the emotional intelligence."<ref name="Neuralink: How the Human Brain Will Download Directly from a Computer"/><ref name="The Coming Singularity"/>
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==See also==
* [[Timeline of OpenAI]]
* [[Timeline of SpaceX]]
* [[Timeline of PayPal]]
==External links==
[https://www.neuralink.com/ Official site]
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
