Elon Musk will soon start implanting brain chips in humans. For good, for now

Elon Musk, the founder of Neuralink, has received authorization to initiate human trials involving a groundbreaking brain chip. This development holds the promise of potentially restoring full bodily mobility to individuals suffering from paralysis.

What is Neuralink?

Elon Musk's company, Neuralink, is embarking on a remarkable journey with the launch of human trials.

• Neuralink, founded by Musk and a team of engineers in 2016, is dedicated to developing a brain chip implant that can be surgically placed within the skull.
• This innovative chip has the potential to aid individuals who face mobility and communication challenges, such as those with paralysis.
• These advanced brain implants, known as the PRIME Study (Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface), aim to empower individuals to control computers through their thoughts.

How does it work?

Participants in the study will undergo brain surgery as part of the trial.

• During the trial, a microchip will be inserted into a specific area of the brain associated with the intention to move.
• The chip will transmit signals from the brain to a dedicated application.
• Initially, the focus is on enabling individuals to control a computer solely through their thoughts.
• It is believed that these chips may also offer the potential to restore vision for the blind and facilitate mobility for paralyzed individuals.

The process

Elon Musk has been dedicated to the goal of connecting the human brain to computers using implants for the past five years.

• The process involves 18 months of both home and clinic visits, followed by regular check-ups spanning five years.
• Eligible candidates for the study include individuals with quadriplegia, resulting from neck injuries or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
• This initiative offers hope to those affected by ALS, a rare neurological disease impacting motor neurons, the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for voluntary muscle movement, as per the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
• Interested candidates can find more information on Neuralink's website.

Previous trials

• Prior to this, Neuralink conducted experiments involving animals, although they encountered challenges, including the unfortunate death of a monkey during a video game experiment in 2022.

• The trials involved macaque monkeys with implanted chips that communicated with computers via Bluetooth technology.

• In April 2021, Neuralink showcased a monkey named Pager playing the computer game Pong solely through thought, without the use of a joystick.

• This achievement was made possible by connecting the chip to the monkey's brain and utilizing a computer to anticipate the monkey's intentions.

 

More about Neuralink

• Elon Musk initially expressed his interest in human testing as early as 2019, but formal requests to the FDA were only made in 2022.

• Initially, the FDA expressed concerns about potential movement of implant components within the brain during removal, posing risks.

• However, in May 2023, Neuralink received FDA approval to conduct their inaugural study involving human participants.

Looking ahead, Neuralink aims to significantly enhance human communication with AI and among humans, potentially mitigating the risks associated with artificial intelligence on a societal scale.

Also Read: Why is Elon Musk's company Neuralink facing federal investigation?