The startup’s founder reports that the patient is recovering well and showing promising signs of neuron spike detection
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Neuralink, announced that the first human has received a brain-chip implant from the startup and is recuperating well. This surgery was expected, as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted clearance to Neuralink in September for the inaugural human trial of its implant. Musk stated in a post on X on Monday, one day after the implant, that the initial results demonstrate encouraging neuron spike detection.
Spikes refer to the activity of neurons, which the National Institute of Health defines as cells that utilize electrical and chemical signals to transmit information within the brain and throughout the body. Musk did not offer additional specifics.
In his subsequent tweets, amidst discussions about video games and exchanges with far-right influencers, the entrepreneur revealed that the inaugural product from Neuralink is named Telepathy. He explained that this technology allows users to control their phone or computer, as well as nearly any other device, through thought alone. Musk emphasized that the initial beneficiaries would be individuals who have lost the use of their limbs. He painted a picture of a scenario where someone like Stephen Hawking could communicate at speeds surpassing those of a professional typist or auctioneer, illustrating the ambitious goal of the project.
Musk has a track record of making ambitious promises, but his ability to fulfill them has been inconsistent. For instance, in 2016, he inaccurately predicted that Teslas would be capable of driving autonomously from New York to Los Angeles within two years. Additionally, he claimed that his SpaceX rocket company would fly to Mars by 2018, a milestone that remains unachieved.
Back in 2017, Musk indicated that Neuralink’s inaugural product would hit the market “in about four years.” However, Anne Vanhoestenberghe, a professor specializing in active implantable medical devices at King’s College London, described Tuesday’s announcement as a “significant milestone” toward achieving that objective.
Vanhoestenberghe emphasized the significance of this development within the brain chip implant community, noting that while several companies are developing promising products, only a few have actually implanted their devices in humans. Therefore, she noted that Neuralink has now joined a relatively exclusive group in this regard.
I anticipate that Neuralink will likely allow the participant some time to recover before commencing training with their system. Elon Musk is known for his skill in generating publicity for his company, so we might anticipate announcements once testing begins. However, I believe true success should be measured in the long run, based on the stability of the interface over time and the extent of its benefits for the participant.
The startup’s study, named Prime, serves as a trial for its wireless brain-computer interface, aimed at assessing the safety of the implant and surgical robot. According to the company’s website, researchers will evaluate the functionality of the interface, which enables individuals with quadriplegia to control devices using their thoughts. Neuralink and Musk have not yet responded to a request for further details.
Musk responded to a cryptocurrency influencer on X who had quoted him as stating that the company would “aid in the restoration of eyesight,” by adding that Neuralink was also working on another product called Blindsight.
According to Reuters, Neuralink was recently fined for breaching US Department of Transportation (DoT) regulations related to the transportation of hazardous materials.
In February 2023, during inspections of the company’s facilities in Texas and California, DoT investigators discovered that Neuralink had not registered itself as a transporter of hazardous materials, as per records from the agency. They also found instances of improper packaging of hazardous waste, including Xylene, a flammable liquid known to cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, loss of muscle coordination, and even death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last year, Neuralink obtained FDA clearance for its initial trial, marking a significant achievement for the startup as it sought to test its implant in humans. According to Reuters, the company was valued at up to $5 billion in June, based on private stock transactions.
In September, Neuralink disclosed the details of its implant trial. As part of the study, the company stated that a robot it had developed would surgically insert “ultra-fine” threads into participants’ brains to facilitate the transmission of signals.