ELON Musk has announced the first Neuralink brain chip implant has been successful.
The tech mogul revealed the human subject implanted with the ambitious chip has fully recovered – and shared the neural effects of the “altered brain”.
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Musk claims the “patient zero” has progressed significantly and is now able to control a computer mouse using their thoughts.
“Progress is good, and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with neural effects that we are aware of,” Musk said in a Spaces event on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Patient is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking.”
The tech mogul added his team was now trying to get as many mouse button clicks as possible from the patient.
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The brain chip, called Telepathy, has 1,000 electrodes and hopes to help people wirelessly perform computer functions simply by thinking via a “think-and-click” mechanism.
Last month, the Tesla boss announced that Neuralink successfully implanted the brain chip on its first human subject after receiving approvals for human trials.
“The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well,” Musk wrote on Monday on X.
“Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.”
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Neuralink got FDA clearance for its first human clinical trials in May, with the company initially wanting to test on 10 humans, though that number changed to six.
While the identity of Neuralink’s first human subject has not been revealed yet, Playboy model Kayla Kayden previously said she wanted to become the first test subject for Musk’s ambitious project.
Elon Musk’s Neuralink puts computer chips in pigs’ brains in hopes of linking humans to artificial intelligence
Kayla compared the Neuralink chip to getting “botox for the brain” – and has offered herself for a human trial to Elon.
The model from, Las Vegas, said the implant would improve her brain power.
“People use Botox for their face, this would be the same but for the brain,” said Kayla.
“I won’t have to worry about the effects of ageing on my brain. As a hybrid human, the possibilities are endless.”
And she hoped it would lessen the chances of getting degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Kayla has tucked away money for the procedure – and claims to have signed up as a research guinea pig, too.
Neuralink’s initial trial applications, however, have been restricted to paralysis patients.
Neuralink promises to be a link between man and machine – allowing humans to directly interface with tech using brain power alone.
And this would open up the possibilities to perfecting other tech such as completely integrated bionic limbs – or perhaps even completely new robotic bodies.
The Tesla boss explained: “[The chip] enables control of your phone or computer, and through them almost any device.
“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.”
The company previously said that Neuralink’s mission is to restore autonomy to individuals who have “unmet medical needs,” with a vision to “unlock the human potential” in the future.
Musk started the project in 2016 as he seeks to link humans and computers.
The tech mogul believes his brain chip can in the long term merge humans and AI.
And he has warned it is the only way mankind can survive and compete with machines.
Elon Musk’s Neuralink
FOUNDED in 2016, Neuralink is Elon Musk’s most ambitious project that aims to erase the biological barrier between human brain and big tech.
Musk’s company initially hired a bunch of experts in areas such as neuroscience, biochemistry and robotics to develop a chip that could be implanted into the skull.
April 2017 – Neuralink announced that it was aiming to make devices to treat serious brain diseases in the short term, with the eventual goal of human enhancement
April 2021 – Neuralink shocked the world with a video of a Macaque monkey playing Pong using its mind via a wireless connection with the chip
May 2023 – Elon Musk’s Neuralink received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its first-in-human clinical trial
January 2024 – The company announced it successfully implanted the brain chip called Telepathy into a human skull
February 2024 – Elon Musk claimed the first human trial has been successful – with patient zero able to control a mouse using their brain
Neuralink’s controversial testing
In April 2021, Neuralink shocked the world with a video of a Macaque, known as Pager, playing Pong.
The animal was seen using a joystick manually and then operating it with only its mind via a wireless connection with the chip.
Neuralink reportedly implanted Bluetooth-enabled chips into the brains of several monkeys to see if they could communicate with computers through a small receiver.
Some of the test subjects are believed to have “suffered infections from the implanted electrodes placed in their brains,” according to a complaint filed by The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).
The group filed a complaint with the USDA, claiming it had evidence macaques used in previous trials were subjected to horrific suffering.
In 2022, the USDA opened a federal probe under the Animal Welfare Act, Reuters reported.
About 1,500 animals – including more than 280 sheep, pigs, and monkeys – reportedly died as a result of Neuralink tests since 2018, the outlet reported, citing records it reviewed.
The company was accused of subjecting animals to “extreme suffering” – with one monkey having holes drilled in its skull.
Experiments allegedly left 15 out of 23 monkeys dead.
In one instance, a monkey was found missing some fingers and toes, possibly caused by self-mutilation, legal papers claimed.
Another case revealed a female macaque monkey had electrodes implanted into its brain, which caused it to be overcome with vomiting, retching, and gasping.
An autopsy later showed the monkey suffered from a brain haemorrhage.
Bloody skin infections, monkeys collapsing, and other horrific side effects were also recorded in the results, according to court papers.
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Neuralink conducted its monkey experiments in partnership with scientists at the University of California, Davis.
“No monkey has died as a result of a Neuralink implant. First, our early implants, to minimize risk to healthy monkeys, we chose terminal monkeys (sic) (close to death already),” Musk replied to a meme on X.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
