Sure, here it goes:
—
So, Gabe Newell, yeah, the dude from Valve? Well, he’s got this company, Starfish Neuroscience or something, that’s doing stuff with brain chips. Sounds like sci-fi, right? They’re cooking up a new chip, super fancy and all, with imec. Now, I know nothing about imec, but sounds important, right?
They’re saying this chip’s going to help with these wireless brain implants — like, no batteries needed or whatever. It’s supposed to read and zap brain signals all at once. Apparently, that’s a big deal for folks with brain circuit issues. Newell’s been chatting about this for a while. He’s got big ideas, that guy.
Okay, so the tech they’re using now… bulky, power-hungry… not great. Elon Musk’s Neuralink, yeah, that’s also a thing, but it focuses on one part of the brain. Starfish wants to sprinkle these mini chips everywhere in the brain — kinda like, less surgery mess or something.
Oh! Their chip is tiny. I’m talking 2x4mm tiny. Didn’t imagine I’d be looking at brain chip specs, but here we are. This chip’s got some features:
– Low power… 1.1 mW — whatever that means.
– Tiny!! Like, 2x4mm.
– 32 electrode spots, does recording and stimulation (I think that’s a science thing).
– Has a single current thing for electrode pairs.
– Processes data onboard, wirelessly communicates… Not sure how that works, but sounds cool.
But wait, they’re kinda in the early stages. They want buddies in wireless power and brain tech to try out this thing by 2025. Wow, that’s soon.
Newell’s all hyped about taking this beyond just medical stuff. In 2023, he said we’re closer to ‘The Matrix’. No idea what that implies but whoa!
He mentioned something mad about interfacing with the motor and visual cortex being easier than, say, making someone feel cold. Brains are weirdly complicated like that, I guess.
Before he left Valve, Mike Ambinder was talking about how these brain toys could change gaming. Imagine games reading your reactions. Freaky, right?
Oh, shoutout to Brad ‘SadlyItsBradley’ Lynch for the scoop. Thanks, dude.
