Elon Musk's Request For Testing Brain Chip In Humans Rejected For Safety Reasons
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reportedly rejected Neuralink's request to start human trials once
Elon Musk has wanted to start human trials for his brain-computer interface called Neuralink for quite some time now. Musk, on multiple occasions, has claimed that human trials would definitely begin in the near-future. But that dream is looking unlikely in the near-future.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reportedly rejected Neuralink's request to start human trials once, employees told Reuters.
Reuters
Safety issues with Neuralink
The agency urged Neuralink to address a variety of issues before beginning human trials - like the device's lithium battery, the potential of device's tiny wires to move to other parts of the human brain, and concerns surrounding safe removal of the device from the brain.
The rejection actually happened about a year ago, and the company is currently working through these issues. Even though the company's employees aren't convinced by the pace of development, Musk made a prediction on November 30 that Neuralink would have its FDA approval by this spring.
Reuters
Also read: Elon Musk's Neuralink Under Investigation For Animal Deaths From Rushed Testing
At the same presentation, Musk also stated that Neuralink had submitted "most of our paperwork" to FDA, without referring to any specific application.
Of course, Neuralink could get the approval by FDA eventually, but such rejections only highlight how far the invasive tech is from becoming human-ready.
Also read: Neuralink Shows Off Monkey Typing Telepathically Using Virtual Keyboard
Reuters
Neuralink will essentially connect humans to computers by processing neural signals and transmitting them to a computer or phone. The company hopes to let people control things like a mouse, keyboard, and even text directly from their mind. In addition, Neuralink could have multiple use cases in people with serious neurological conditions.
What do you think about implanting a chip onto your brain? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
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