Elon Musk’s neurotechnology startup Neuralink has successfully implanted its device in a human for the first time during the weekend. In a recent post on his X (formerly known as Twitter), the billionaire reported that the patient is reportedly “recovering well”, while initial results are showing “promising neuron spike detection.”
The company is actively developing a brain implant designed to assist individuals with severe paralysis in controlling external technologies solely through neural signals. After receiving approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May, Neuralink initiated its first in-human clinical trial in the fall, recruiting patients for the study.
The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well.
Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2024
Musk revealed in a series of posts on X that Neuralink’s inaugural product is named Telepathy, and if the technology proves effective, individuals suffering from debilitating conditions like ALS could potentially use the implant to communicate or access social media by manipulating cursors and typing with their thoughts. The billionaire, who also serves as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, emphasised the transformative potential by envisioning scenarios where individuals such as Stephen Hawking, could communicate at speeds surpassing those of professional typists or auctioneers.
As a prominent player in the emerging brain-computer interface (BCI) industry, Neuralink stands out partly due to the high-profile association with Musk. For context, BCI is a system that deciphers brain signals and translates them into commands for external technologies.
Enables control of your phone or computer, and through them almost any device, just by thinking.
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.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 30, 2024
The current in-human clinical trial signifies just one phase in Neuralink’s journey toward commercialisation. Before obtaining final approval from the FDA, medical device companies, including Neuralink, must undergo rigorous rounds of data safety collection and testing. The exact number of participants in its initial in-human trial was not disclosed.
