Elon Musk announced on social media platform X that the first human patient has received a brain implant developed by his company, Neuralink. After receiving approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and a hospital ethics board, Neuralink began recruiting patients for a clinical trial. The company aims to develop a brain-computer interface device that will allow paralyzed individuals to control a cursor or keyboard with their brains. The trial is expected to take six years to complete and is currently recruiting participants with quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injury or ALS.
Neuralink plans to use a surgical robot developed by the company to place the implant into the region of the brain responsible for movement intention. The coin-sized device will record and transmit brain signals wirelessly to an app that will decode those signals. While Musk stated that the patient is “recovering well” and initial results show promising neuron spike detection, it will take time to determine if the patient can successfully control a computer or device using the implant. Recovery from surgery and training to use a brain-computer interface can take several weeks.
Although the Neuralink patient is not the first to receive a brain-computer interface, with a few dozen people having been outfitted with similar devices in research studies, Neuralink’s goal is to achieve a symbiosis with artificial intelligence. The company’s immediate focus is on helping paralyzed individuals regain control over their movements. Previous BCIs have allowed paralyzed individuals to play video games, move robotic arms, and even write emails using only their thoughts. BCIs were previously limited in their pursuit due to technological constraints, but advancements in technology have made Neuralink’s goals more feasible.
In conclusion, Elon Musk’s company Neuralink has successfully implanted a brain-computer interface into a human patient. The clinical trial aims to assist paralyzed individuals in controlling a cursor or keyboard with their brains. While the results are promising, it will take time to determine the full extent of the patient’s ability to control devices using the implant. Neuralink’s ultimate goal is to achieve a symbiosis with artificial intelligence, but for now, they are focused on helping paralyzed individuals regain movement control.
