44 “钢铁侠” 又放大招：我们离人脑互联只差两年？！【拓展版】

Elon Musk Sees His Neuralink Merging Your Brain With A.I.

Elon Musk said startup Neuralink, which aims to build a scalable implant to connect human brains with computers, has already implanted chips in rats and plans to test its brain-machine interface in humans within two years, with a long-term goal of people "merging with AI."

Once implanted, according to Musk, the chip would connect wirelessly to devices. "It basically Bluetooths to your phone," he said. "We'll have to watch the App Store updates to that one," he added (the audience laughed).   

Musk cofounded Neuralink in 2017 and serves as the company's CEO, though it's unclear how much involvement he has given that he's also serving as CEO for SpaceX and Tesla.

Musk spoke about the potential for its company's neural implants to improve the lives of people with brain damage and other brain disabilities. Its first goal, based on its discussions with such patients, is the ability to control a mobile device. 

The company's long-term goal is a bit more fantastical, and relates to Musk's oft-repeated concerns over the dangers of advanced artificial intelligence. That goal is to use the company's chips to create a "tertiarylevel" of the brain that would be linked to artificial intelligence.

【参考译文】

埃隆·马斯克设想他的“神经链”可以将你的大脑和人工智能合在一起

埃隆·马斯克表示，初创公司Neuralink的目标是构建一个用途广泛的植入物，将人脑与计算机连接起来。该公司已经在老鼠身上植入了芯片，并计划在两年内在人类身上测试脑机联结，其长期目标是让人类“与人工智能结合”。

据马斯克介绍，一旦植入，该芯片将与设备进行无线连接。他说：“它基本上就是把蓝牙连接到手机上。”他补充说（观众笑了），“我们将不得不关注这个应用程序在苹果应用商店的更新。”

马斯克在2017年与人共同创立了Neuralink公司，并担任该公司的首席执行官。不过考虑到他同时还担任SpaceX和特斯拉的首席执行官，目前还不清楚他在多大程度上参与了Neuralink公司的运作。

马斯克谈到该公司的神经植入物有改善脑损伤和其他脑残患者生活的潜力。根据与这些患者的讨论，该植入物的第一个目标，是控制移动设备的能力。

该公司的长期目标有点异想天开，这与马斯克对先进人工智能的危险反复表达的担忧有关。这一目标是利用公司的芯片，来创建一个与人工智能相连接的“第三层”大脑。

【课文注释】

see /siː/ v. 设想；想象

to consider sth. as a future possibility; to imagine sb./sth. as sth.

• I can't see her changing her mind. 我无法想象她会改变主意。 

merge /mɜːdʒ/ v. 合并；融合

to combine, or to join things together to form one thing

• The bank announced that it was to merge with another of the high street banks. 这家银行宣布将要和另一家大银行合并。

scalable /'skeɪləbəl/ adj. （计算过程）可用于（或产生）多种能力的

(of a computing process) able to be used or produced in a range of capabilities

• It is scalable across a range of systems. 它能用于广泛的系统中。

implant /ˈɪmplɑːnt/ n. （通过手术被移植进人体的）植入物

something artificial that is put into someone's body in a medical operation

• They felt a woman had a right to choose to have a breast implant. 他们认为妇女有权利选择隆胸。

interface /'ɪntəfeɪs/ n. 接口

the part of a computer system that connects two different machines

• the interface between computer and printer 计算机和打印机之间的接口

watch /wɒtʃ/ v. 关注

to pay attention to a situation that interests or worries you to see how it develops

• The government will watch the progress of these schemes with interest. 政府会很有兴趣地关注这些计划的进展。

fantastical /fænˈtæstɪkəl/ adj. 奇异的，荒唐的，虚构的

strange, unreal, and magical

• fantastical creatures with golden wings and lions' faces 金翅狮面的怪兽

oft /ɒft/ adv. 经常，时常

often

• oft-repeated advice 再三重复的忠告

tertiary /'tɜːʃəri/ adj. 第三的；第三级的；第三位的

third in place, degree, or order

• the tertiary sector (= the area of industry that deals with services rather than materials or goods) 第三产业部门