Why Neuralink’s mind-reading device gave neuroscientists the hump

RoboHog

The world’s science journalists were on tenterhooks in August, as billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk dropped intriguing hints on Twitter about a forthcoming demo of Neuralink, his sci-fi brain-computer interface.

Musk has a wide internet fanbase thanks to his pioneering work in futuristic fields, such as space rocketry and self-driving cars – but he does have form for overpromising on what he can deliver.

According to Musk, the coin-sized device will eventually let people control gadgets with their minds and download their memories. The display on 28 August would, he said, show neurons firing in real time. Or, in other…