Elon Musk’s startup, Neuralink, has achieved a significant milestone by completing the first human brain implant on a patient, as announced by Musk on the social media platform X. The procedure, conducted on Monday, was reported to be successful, and the patient is said to be recovering well.
Musk shared that the initial results of the brain implant showed promising neuron spike detection. He explained that this capability enables users to control devices such as phones or computers simply by thinking. The primary focus initially will be on individuals who have lost the use of their limbs, with the goal of enhancing communication speed, as illustrated by the example of Stephen Hawking.
The first product from Neuralink is named “Telepathy,” according to Musk’s social media post. Last year in May, Neuralink received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct its first-in-human clinical trial for implanting a microchip in the human brain. This approval came after the startup faced scrutiny over allegations of animal deaths in brain implant experiments.
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.
In September 2023, Neuralink initiated recruitment for the PRIME Study, which stands for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface. The study aims to evaluate the safety of Neuralink’s implant (N1) and surgical robot (R1) and assess the initial functionality of the brain-computer interface for enabling individuals with paralysis to control external devices through their thoughts.
The R1 Robot is utilized during the study to surgically place the N1 Implant’s ultra-fine and flexible threads in a brain region controlling movement intention. Once in place, the N1 Implant, which is cosmetically invisible, records and transmits brain signals wirelessly to an app, decoding movement intention. The initial goal of the brain-computer interface is to grant people the ability to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone.
