Elon Musk reveals Neuralink implants brain chip is already in first human

This past Sunday, the inaugural human recipient of an implant from Neuralink, the brain-chip start-up founded by billionaire Elon Musk, underwent the procedure successfully and is reportedly in good recovery, according to Musk’s announcement. Musk shared on the social media platform X that the preliminary results indicate promising detection of neuron spikes, signifying activity in neurons, which are cells transmitting information through electrical and chemical signals in the brain and body. 

Having received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration last year, Neuralink marked a crucial milestone by initiating its first human trial, aiming to address paralysis and various neurological conditions. In September, the company secured approval for recruiting participants in the trial, employing a robot to surgically implant a brain-computer interface (BCI) in the brain region responsible for movement intention. The primary objective is to enable individuals to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone, facilitated by the “ultra-fine” threads of the implants transmitting signals in participants’ brains. 

Elon Musk mentioned in a separate X post that the first product from Neuralink would be named Telepathy. The ongoing Prime Study, evaluating the safety of the wireless brain-computer interface and the surgical robot, signifies a significant step in the company’s development. 

Despite the successful progress, Neuralink has faced scrutiny over safety protocols, including a recent fine for violating transportation rules. In November, the company’s valuation was questioned by four lawmakers who urged the US Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate potential investor misinformation regarding technology safety. Musk, in response, emphasized on social media that no monkeys had died due to Neuralink implants, clarifying that “terminal” monkeys were chosen to minimize risks to healthy ones.