From Restoring Sight to Reimagining the Brain, with Max Hodak
Summary
Max Hodak, founder of Science, discusses his company’s Prima retinal prosthesis, which recently received European regulatory approval to restore vision in blind patients. He argues the brain is a computer, advocating for engineering-based neural interfaces over traditional drug discovery. The conversation covers the "Platonic representation hypothesis," linking AI models to neuroscience, and the long-term goal of achieving substrate independence to enhance human resilience and healthspan.
Topics discussed
Intro: The brain as a computer and retinal prosthesis proof of concept
Max Hodak's background and Science's mission to restore vision
Choosing the retina: Bio-hybrid interfaces vs. Prima's engineering path
CE approval, moonshot success rates, and the pipeline of three programs
Clinical trial results and the controversial view of the brain as a computer
Defining BCI: From hand substitutes to restoring sensory inputs
Consciousness, identity continuity, and the boundary of the self
Connectomics and the Platonic Representation Hypothesis in AI
Commercializing Prima: Pricing, market size, and reimbursement
Substrate independence: Replacing organs and adapting for space
Why Science ignores brain-keyboards for sensory restoration
Listen ad-free on Castria