Elon Musk’s Neuralink implants brain chip in 1st patient
SAN FRANCISCO — Elon Musk said on Monday his Neuralink startup had installed a brain implant in its first human patient with “promising” initial results.
The neurotechnology company co-founded by Musk in 2016 aims to build direct communication channels between the brain and computers.
The ambition is to supercharge human capabilities, treat neurological disorders such as ALS or Parkinson’s, and maybe one day achieve a symbiotic relationship between humans and artificial intelligence. ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
“The first human received an implant from Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well,” Musk said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.”
Spikes are activity by neurons, which the United States National Institutes of Health describes as cells that use electrical and chemical signals to send information around the brain and to the body.
The US Food and Drug Administration had given the company clearance last year to conduct its first trial to test its implant on humans, a critical milestone in the startup’s ambitions to help patients overcome paralysis and a host of neurological conditions.
In September, Neuralink said it received approval for recruitment for the human trial.
The study uses a robot to surgically place a brain-computer interface implant in a region of the brain that controls the intention to move, Neuralink said, adding that its initial goal is to enable people to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone.
Calls for scrutiny
The company has faced calls for scrutiny regarding its safety protocols. Reuters reported earlier this month that the company was fined for violating US Department of Transportation rules regarding the movement of hazardous materials.
The company was valued at about $5 billion in June, but four lawmakers in November asked the US Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether Musk had misled investors about the safety of its technology after veterinary records showed problems with the implants on monkeys included paralysis, seizures and brain swelling.
Musk wrote in a social media post on Sept 10 that “no monkey has died as a result of a Neuralink implant”. He said the company chose “terminally ill” monkeys to minimize risk to healthy ones.
Although he makes headlines, Musk is hardly alone in trying to make advances in the field, which is officially known as brain-machine or brain-computer interface research.
Stymied by delays, the tycoon had reportedly reached out to join forces with implant developer Synchron about a potential investment.
Unlike Neuralink’s Link, its implant version does not require cutting into the skull to install it.
The Australia-based Synchron implanted its first device in a US patient in July 2022.