Max Hodak, co-founder of Neuralink, is now on a journey to create something even more extraordinary. Six years ago, at a StrictlyVC event, Sam Altman's response to a question about OpenAI's monetization strategy was to ask the AI itself, a statement he stood by. Fast forward to today, and Hodak, with his casual attire and witty humor, is leading Science Corp., a company valued at hundreds of millions. Hodak's journey began at Duke, where he worked with Miguel Nicolelis, a neuroscientist critical of commercial BCI ventures. He then co-founded Neuralink with Elon Musk, gaining valuable experience.
Hodak's time at Neuralink taught him a unique problem-solving approach from Musk. This knowledge, along with three former colleagues, led to the creation of Science Corp. four years ago. The company's goal is to push the boundaries of cognition, and Hodak's confidence is infectious. While the world has been focused on AI data centers and talent poaching, Science Corp. has been quietly making progress.
The BCI market is booming, with nearly 700 companies involved, including tech giants like Microsoft Research and Apple. China aims to lead the industry by 2030, and even Sam Altman is backing a Neuralink rival. The neuroscience behind BCI isn't new, but the engineering is. Neuralink's innovation lies in creating a small, low-power device that can be fully implanted without infection risk.
Science Corp. is taking a unique approach to revenue generation. They're creating affordable tools for researchers, turning expensive systems into handheld devices. Their first commercial product, Prima, is a breakthrough. It's a computer chip implanted in the retina, restoring vision to those with macular degeneration. The technology has been featured in Time magazine, and Science Corp. acquired it from Pixium Vision, refining and completing trials.
The company's next ambitious step is optogenetic gene therapy, aiming to control neurons with light instead of electrodes. They believe they've cracked the code where others have failed. Prima works by stimulating bipolar cells in the retina, bypassing dead photoreceptors. Gene therapy aims to achieve this without electrodes, using engineered cells to respond to light.
Hodak believes the ultimate goal is growing new brain tissue. Electrodes are invasive and limit scalability. Science Corp. has tested a device in mice that adds engineered neurons to the brain's surface, creating biological links with existing circuits. This technology could potentially lead to multiple brains forming one consciousness, a concept reminiscent of the Apple TV show 'Pluribus'.
Hodak's vision extends to the future of healthcare. He believes BCI technology will reshape healthcare economics, as improved longevity will lead to more healthcare demands. This could result in class divisions based on cognitive enhancements, raising ethical concerns. Hodak's journey, from Neuralink to Science Corp., is a captivating tale of innovation and the potential future of human consciousness.
