Elon Musk said on Tuesday that his business, Neuralink, had implanted the first brain chip in a human patient. The billionaire stated that the initial results are “promising” and that the invention is named after the ability to converse mentally, or Telepathy. “Initial results show promising neuron spike detection,” Musk wrote on X, alluding to the brain’s ability to transmit messages to the body. The business, which gained approval from the US health agency to perform the first human study of its implant last year, intends to use it to aid paralysis patients.
Musk explained how the implant connects the brain to any electronic device
In a post on X, Musk explained how the implant connects the brain to any electronic device, adding that the implant can be useful for the physically disabled. “Enables control of your phone or computer, and through them almost any device, just by thinking. Initial users will be those who have lost the use of their limbs. Imagine if Stephen Hawking could communicate faster than a speed typist or auctioneer. That is the goal,” he said. The implants, made of “ultra-fine” threads, can transmit signals from the brain and connect those to commands on an electronic device, Neuralink said.
The company’s website states that its objective is to develop a “generalized brain interface to restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs.” The PRIME (Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) study will involve quadriplegic individuals as well as those with spinal cord injuries and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Musk’s grandiose attempt to make telepathy a reality has also drawn criticism, as the business was penalized last month for breaking experimental safety protocols. The $5 billion firm was also accused of deceiving investors about the technology’s safety after animal testing revealed paralysis, convulsions, and brain enlargement in study participants.
