From Restoring Sight to Reimagining the Brain, with Max Hodak

Max Hodak, co-founder and CEO of Science Corporation, joins Sarah Guo to discuss the future of vision, brain-computer interfaces, and the human experience. Max explains how Science’s PRIMA retinal implant could restore functional vision for people who have lost their sight, and why treating the brain as a computational system could unlock new approaches to medicine.

They explore the broader potential of neural devices, from restoring lost capabilities to expanding human potential, as well as deeper questions around identity, consciousness, and whether the human experience can persist as our biological hardware changes.

Max also shares Science’s long-term vision for reducing the fragility of the human condition by repairing, replacing, and ultimately upgrading parts of ourselves. Finally, he discusses the surprising parallels between AI models and biological brains, and why AI may offer a powerful new lens for understanding intelligence.

Chapters:

00:00 – Cold Open Trailer

01:40 – Max Hodak Introduction

02:00 – Science Corporation Overview and Origin

02:53 – A Revolutionary Solve for Blindness 

06:32 – Scope of Timeline and Engineer Cost

09:10 – Clinic Trial Process

09:45 - The Response from Clinicians

12:21 – Broader Biotech Landscape

14:59 – Brain’s Relationship to Senses

17:35 – The Study of Consciousness 

19:50 – Investments in Brain Computer Interface

22:10 – Fertile Ways to Study Neuroscience

24:46 – Biotech Expansion for Science Corporation

27:50 – What Success Looks Like in Neuroscience and Tech

29:06 - Goals Within Human Preservation vs. Adaptation 

30:25 – Conclusion