According to Elon Musk, the first human received an implant from his computer-brain interface company Neuralink over the weekend. In a Monday post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Musk said that the patient received the implant the day prior and was “recovering well.” He added that “initial results show promising neuron spike detection.”
Quick Read
- Elon Musk announced that the first human received an implant from his company Neuralink, a computer-brain interface company, over the weekend.
- Musk shared the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that the patient received the implant the day before and is “recovering well.” Initial results indicated promising neuron spike detection.
- The identity and details of the patient were not provided. Neuralink had previously announced plans to recruit individuals with quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injury or ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).
- Neuralink’s device is approximately the size of a large coin and is implanted in the skull, with ultra-thin wires going directly into the brain. It aims to enable individuals to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone.
- Musk also mentioned a product called “Telepathy” in development by Neuralink, which would allow users to control phones or computers through thought, primarily targeting users who have lost the use of their limbs.
- The safety and effectiveness of such brain-computer interfaces are still being studied through clinical trials, with over 40 such trials currently underway.
- Neuralink is among several groups working on connecting the nervous system to computers to address brain disorders, brain injuries, and other applications.
The Associated Press has the story:
Elon Musk says the 1st human has received an implant from Neuralink
Newslooks- NEW YORK (AP) —
According to Elon Musk, the first human received an implant from his computer-brain interface company Neuralink over the weekend.
In a Monday post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Musk said that the patient received the implant the day prior and was “recovering well.” He added that “initial results show promising neuron spike detection.”
The billionaire, who co-founded Neuralink, did not provide additional details about the patient. When Neuralink announced in September that it would begin recruiting people, the company said it was searching for individuals with quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Neuralink reposted Musk’s Monday post on X, but did not publish any additional statements acknowledging the human implant. The company did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ requests for comment Tuesday.
The Associated Press also reached out to The Food and Drug Administration for comment.
Neuralink’s device is about the size of a large coin and is designed to be implanted in the skull, with ultra-thin wires going directly into the brain. In its September announcement, Neuralink said the wires would be surgically placed in a region of the brain that controls movement intention. The initial goal of the so-called brain computer interface is to give people the ability to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone.
In a separate Monday post on X, Musk said that the first Neuralink product is called “Telepathy” — which, he said, will enable users to control their phones or computers “just by thinking.” He added that intial users would be those who have lost use of their limbs.
It’s unclear how well this device or similar interfaces will ultimately work, or how safe they might be. Clinical trials are designed to collect data on safety and effectiveness.
Neuralink is one of many groups working on linking the nervous system to computers, efforts aimed at helping treat brain disorders, overcoming brain injuries and other applications. There are more than 40 brain computer interface trials underway, according to clinicaltrials.gov.
