An animated video released this week, styled like a late-night TV ad, showcases a futuristic concept: a robotic surgeon swiftly transfers the head of a dying man onto a healthy body. Dubbed BrainBridge, the video claims it is the “world’s first revolutionary concept for a head transplant machine,” employing advanced robotics and AI for complete head and face transplants.
Since its release on Tuesday, the video has garnered millions of views and thousands of comments on Facebook, with TikTok flagging it for graphic content. A polished BrainBridge website lists job openings, including for a “neuroscience team leader” and a “government relations adviser,” leading some media outlets to erroneously report BrainBridge as a real biomedical startup planning surgery within eight years.
However, BrainBridge is not a real company. The video was created by Hashem Al-Ghaili, a Yemeni science communicator known for his viral 2022 video “EctoLife” about artificial wombs, which also confused journalists about its authenticity.
Al-Ghaili, based in Dubai, aims to provoke thought rather than merely attract views. He admits the video serves as a recruitment tool for a controversial project aimed at defeating death, gaining traction among life-extension advocates.
The BrainBridge system will employ AI-directed robotic arms to meticulously remove a patient’s head and attach it to a compatible donor body. The process involves reconnecting the spinal cord, nerves, and blood vessels with unparalleled precision.
A proprietary chemical adhesive and polyethylene glycol will be used to reconnect severed neurons, enhancing the likelihood of successful integration.
A Methodical Approach
Al-Ghaili has outlined an eight-year roadmap to the first surgery, allowing time to address the significant medical challenges associated with such complex procedures. Initial efforts will focus on achieving successful spinal cord surgeries, which are critical to the feasibility of full head and body transplants.
Despite the excitement surrounding BrainBridge, the medical science community has largely remained silent on the startup’s bold claims. Previous attempts at head transplants, notably by Italian doctor Sergio Canavero, did not progress beyond experimental surgeries on cadavers, casting a shadow of skepticism over Al-Ghaili’s plans.
BrainBridge remains in the conceptual phase, and while the startup’s website is light on specific details, it highlights the potential benefits of using younger donor tissues to reduce rejection risks and enhance post-operative outcomes. Meticulous suturing and advanced post-operative care are also emphasized to promote healing and minimize scarring.
Al-Ghaili’s innovative approach represents a daring leap into uncharted medical territory, with the potential to dramatically change the lives of those suffering from severe medical conditions. While the journey ahead is fraught with challenges, the promise of robotic head transplants brings a new frontier in the field of transplant medicine.
The project received partial funding from Alex Zhavoronkov, founder of Insilico Medicine, an AI drug discovery company, and a prominent anti-aging researcher. Zhavoronkov’s face appears on the two bodies in the video, and he confirmed his involvement in its design and funding. However, he declined to disclose other financial backers or confirm the authenticity of the job ads.
Head transplantation, though speculative, has historical precedent. In the 1970s, American neurosurgeon Robert White performed a head transplant on monkeys, keeping the head conscious for a few days. The BrainBridge video hints at solutions for severed spinal cords, referencing advancements in spinal injury treatments.
The video raises numerous ethical questions, including the source of donor bodies. The BrainBridge website proposes using “ethically grown” unconscious bodies from EctoLife, or those from individuals undergoing euthanasia.