On January 30, tech billionaire Elon Musk announced that his startup Neuralink has conducted its first human brain chip implantation trial, with initial results described as “promising.”
The Neuralink device will be implanted in the human brain. (Photo: AFP).
In a post on social media platform X, Musk specified that the experiment took place on January 29 and that the chip recipient is recovering well. Initial results have also reported a “promising” development of certain neural spikes.
In May 2023, Neuralink received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct this trial.
Neuralink is a neurotechnology company co-founded by Elon Musk in 2016, aiming to create direct communication channels between computers and the human brain. The company’s ambition is to enhance human potential and treat various neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), while working towards establishing a symbiotic relationship between humans and artificial intelligence (AI). Neuralink’s technology primarily operates through an implanted chip called “Link” – a device the size of a coin, implanted into the human brain through invasive surgery. According to data from Pitchbook, in 2023, the California-based company raised at least $363 million and has over 400 employees.
Currently, several companies are also conducting similar research, including Synchron. In July 2022, the Australia-based company announced it had implanted a brain-computer interface device in a patient with ALS in the U.S. The purpose of this device is to enable patients to communicate, even after losing their ability to move, by using their thoughts to send emails and messages.
