Billionaire Elon Musk has announced a significant milestone for his company Neuralink, stating that they have successfully implanted a wireless brain chip in a human for the first time.
According to Musk, initial results show promising neuron spikes, and the patient is recovering well. Neuralink aims to connect human brains to computers to address complex neurological conditions.
The FDA granted permission in May for Neuralink to test the chip on humans, marking a crucial step after earlier approval challenges.
The ongoing six-year study involves a robot surgically placing 64 flexible threads, thinner than a human hair, onto a brain region controlling “movement intention.”
The experimental implant, powered by a wirelessly chargeable battery, records and transmits brain signals wirelessly to an app for decoding the user’s intended movements.
Elon Musk revealed on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), that Neuralink’s first product would be called Telepathy.
This technology is intended to allow users to control devices such as phones or computers through thought alone.
Musk envisions its initial application in aiding those who have lost limb function, and he mentioned the late Stephen Hawking as an example, suggesting the potential for faster communication.
Despite Musk’s involvement boosting Neuralink’s visibility, there are rival companies with substantial experience in brain-computer interfaces.
Blackrock Neurotech, based in Utah, implanted its first device in 2004, while Precision Neuroscience, founded by a Neuralink co-founder, offers a simpler implantation procedure.
Recent studies have also shown promising results in decoding brain activity to assist communication in individuals with paralysis.
Source-BBC
