Elon Musk's Firm Implants Brain Chip For The 1st Time In A Human. Here's How It Works

The first human patient has received an implant from brain-chip startup Neuralink on Sunday and is recovering well, the company's billionaire founder Elon Musk said."Initial results show promising neuron spike detection," Musk said in a post on the social media platform X on Monday.

Spikes are activity by neurons, which the National Institute of Health describes as cells that use electrical and chemical signals to send information around the brain and to the body.

Aim of the neurotechnology company

Co-founded by Musk in 2016, the neurotechnology company endeavors to establish direct communication pathways between the brain and computers.

Their overarching goal is to enhance human capabilities significantly, address neurological disorders such as ALS or Parkinson's, and ultimately aspire towards a future where humans and artificial intelligence enjoy a symbiotic relationship.

Neuralink obtained approval from US regulators last year??

Neuralink, a pioneering start-up co-founded by Elon Musk, obtained approval from US regulators last year to commence testing its brain implants in humans. The company's technology primarily revolves around the "Link," an implant roughly the size of five stacked coins, which is surgically placed into the human brain.

With over 400 employees and a reported $363 million in funding, the company is at the forefront of brain-machine interface research.

Hit with delays, the tycoon had reportedly reached out to join forces with implant developer Synchron about a potential investment.Unlike Neuralink's Link, its implant version does not require cutting into the skull to install it. The Australia-based Synchron implanted its first device in a US patient in July 2022.

AP

How does the human brain chip work?

The study uses a robot to surgically place a brain-computer interface (BCI) implant in a region of the brain that controls the intention to move, Neuralink said previously, adding that its initial goal is to enable people to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone.

The implants' "ultra-fine" threads help transmit signals in participants' brains, Neuralink has said.

? ? ??