Elon Musk’s brain chip startup, Neuralink, has made a major breakthrough. Musk announced on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the first person has received a neural implant from the controversial company. For months, Neuralink has been searching for a candidate to undergo its experimental surgery, which involves installing a small microchip in the upper layer of the person’s skull. The goal of this procedure is to provide scientific and health benefits, such as measuring brain activity and enhancing capabilities for individuals with physical or mental disabilities.
The company has stated that the first operation was intended to test the safety and effectiveness of the implant and the medical procedure. According to Musk’s tweet, it seems that Neuralink not only found a suitable candidate but also successfully implanted them with the company’s brain chip.
The surgical procedure involves a human surgeon cutting a small hole in the patient’s skull, followed by a delicate robotic procedure to suture the bones and implant electrified wires directly into the person’s brain. If successful, the company’s hardware is designed to rest on the patient’s skull below the scalp, while its cables carry data between the brain and servers.
The identity of the patient who underwent surgery remains unknown. Neuralink has expressed its initial focus on providing solutions for people with physical and mental illnesses, with a particular interest in procedures for quadriplegics. However, the company aims to eventually develop cyber enhancements for everyday people – a concept Musk has referred to as transhumanist “brain hacking.”
Since its establishment in 2016, Neuralink has been working to use neural implants and experimental science to usher in a new era of computer-brain interconnection. The company faced controversies in the past, including accusations of animal abuse during testing. However, Neuralink claims that its operations are now safe and received FDA approval for human clinical trials last May.