Neuralink, the brain-machine interface startup founded by Elon Musk, has successfully implanted a brain chip in its first human patient, according to a recent announcement by Musk on the social media platform X. Musk reported that the patient is recovering well, and the initial outcomes of the procedure show promise.
The innovative brain implant developed by Neuralink is designed to empower individuals with traumatic injuries to operate computers through their thoughts.
In May last year the company secured approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence its initial human trials, targeting individuals with quadriplegia resulting from cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Elon Musk revealed that Neuralink’s inaugural product, named “Telepathy,” aims to facilitate control over phones, computers, and a wide range of devices simply by thinking.
The initial users of this technology are envisioned to be individuals who have lost the use of their limbs, with Musk emphasizing the potential for enhanced communication capabilities, citing the example of the late physicist Stephen Hawking.
In his X post, Musk highlighted positive results in neuron spike detection, indicating successful recordings from the patient’s brain.
Experts have noted the significance of Neuralink’s achievement but emphasized the need for the company to demonstrate superiority over other leading players in the field, such as Blackrock Neurotech and Synchron.
Neuralink has previously conducted extensive experiments on animals, including monkeys playing computer games using brain signals. However, this has raised concerns among animal rights groups like the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Elon Musk’s announcement follows years of anticipation, with Musk predicting human implantation as early as July 2019. While other companies, including Synchron, have made strides in human brain implants, Neuralink’s recent success is expected to mitigate criticism about potential delays.
Despite this progress, a commercial brain implant from Neuralink is not imminent. Jaimie Henderson, a neurosurgery professor at Stanford University and adviser to Neuralink, cautioned against overhyping the technology, stating that an approved device is still years away.
The challenging task ahead involves demonstrating the safety and efficacy of Neuralink’s chips, which penetrate less than 2mm into the brain, in subsequent studies following the initial human trials. The company aims to perform 11 surgeries in 2024, marking a pivotal year for the development of this groundbreaking technology.
(With inputs from agencies)
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