We’re beginning to see a glimpse of the future here with Neuralink, Elon Musk’s company that puts a chip inside a human’s brain.
The first patient implanted with Neuralink’s device has successfully controlled a computer mouse through thought alone. Musk shared this significant achievement during a Spaces session on the social media platform X, stating, “The patient seems to have made a full recovery with no ill effects that we are aware of and is able to control the mouse, move the mouse around the screen just by thinking,” reports CNBC.
Neuralink has developed a brain implant aimed at enabling humans to use neural signals to interact with external technologies. The company’s mission is to restore lost functions such as vision, motor abilities, and speech capabilities.
The first human implantation of Neuralink’s device occurred in January, utilizing a sophisticated robot for precise placement within the brain. Musk elaborated on the technology’s capabilities, explaining that Neuralink is focusing on translating thought into digital commands, such as moving a computer mouse or dragging boxes on a screen, through “as many button presses as possible from thinking.”
Following approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May, Neuralink began recruiting participants for its inaugural human clinical trial last fall. This trial represents a critical step towards the commercialization of Neuralink’s technology. However, before receiving final FDA approval, medical device companies like Neuralink must undergo extensive data safety collection and testing phases.