Digital Public Square Elon Musk, Neuralink, and human nature
Elon Musk has become a household name in the last few years. From the rise and popularity of the all electric vehicles at Tesla to the commercialization of space travel through SpaceX, Musk is a man on a mission to revolutionize our society. According to Forbes, Musk is worth over $86.1 billion dollars, making him one of the most wealthy and recognizable names in the world. A few years ago I read a fascinating biography of Musk by Ashlee Vance with a fitting subtitle of “Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future.” Vance describes well that Musk is indeed on a quest for the future, but the question of whether this vision of the future is fantastic is heavily debated today.
A couple weeks back, Musk held a press conference with his lesser known startup company called Neuralink, which is an American neurotechnology company founded in July 2016. Neuralink specializes in the development of brain computer interfaces (BCI) that it hopes will be able to help cure neurological diseases such as memory loss, hearing loss, depression, and insomnia, as well as potentially enhance healthy human beings with abilities ranging from typing with your thoughts, hailing a self-driving car, or even extending your memory.
The Rundown
Walmart+ launches Sept 15, offering same-day delivery, gas discounts and cashierless checkout for $98/yr – TechCrunch
Walmart announced its Amazon-like service that provides unlimited same-day delivery, gas discounts, and access to a new scan-and-go app that allows shoppers to skip the checkout line. Customers will be able to enroll in a Walmart+ membership beginning September 15 at a cost of $98 per year.
TikTok Deal Is Complicated by New Rules From China Over Tech Exports– New York Times
As the bidding war for TikTok nears a close, China has rolled out new regulations on exports that could put the sale of the Chinese-owned app to a U.S. company in jeopardy. The new restrictions could require ByteDance to obtain a license from the Chinese government in order to sell the app to a foreign corporation.
Google launches Kids Space, a hub for child-friendly apps and videos on tablets – CNet
Google has released a hub called “Kids Space” for Android tablets, which allows young children to access educational and entertaining apps, music, games, and books that are kid-friendly. The material available in this hub has been dubbed “teacher approved.”
Amazon receives U.S. regulatory approval to start drone delivery trials – Reuters
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given approval to Amazon to begin testing for delivering packages with autonomous drones. Amazon is the third organization to be granted approval for this venture, joining UPS and Alphabet, Inc.
Other Resources:
A conversation with Trillia Newbell about parenting, kids, and technology – WeeklyTech Podcast
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