Elon Musk has announced that Neuralink has successfully implanted a brain chip into its first human subject, marking a significant stride in the realm of medical technology. This achievement, announced by Musk on the social media platform X, indicates the start of human trials after years of anticipation and preparation.
The unnamed patient, implanted with the brain chip on Sunday, is reported to be recovering well, according to Musk.
The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2024
Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.
This milestone follows Neuralink’s approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year to initiate human trials. Musk also used X to announce the company’s first product, named Telepathy, which aims to revolutionize the way people interact with technology, specifically targeting individuals with severe disabilities.
Enables control of your phone or computer, and through them almost any device, just by thinking.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 30, 2024
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.
The Telepathy implant, using “ultrafine” threads, is designed to enable communication and control of electronic devices through brain signals alone. Its potential applications are vast, offering hope to those with conditions like ALS, quadriplegia, and other severe neurological impairments. Musk envisions a future where individuals like the late Stephen Hawking could communicate at speeds surpassing even the fastest typists.
Neuralink’s PRIME Study, utilizing a robot for the surgical placement of the implant, focuses on assessing the safety of both the implant and the surgical procedure. The implant is strategically positioned in a brain region associated with movement intention, and its discreet nature renders it cosmetically invisible once in place. The ultimate goal of the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is to enable control of computer cursors or keyboards purely through thought.
