2024-02-21 07:16:08
Now the billionaire wants more patient clicks
The first patient with a brain chip implanted by billionaire Elon Musk’s company Neuralink can now control a computer mouse with just his mind.
“Progress is good and the patient seems to have fully recovered,” the rich man said on his platform X, adding: “The patient can move the mouse on the screen with just his thought.” Neuralink’s goal, he says, will be to get the person to reproduce as many cursor clicks as possible. The startup successfully implanted the “Telepathy” chip into a human brain for the first time a month ago after receiving approval in September. The company still
keep in anonymity identity to your patient
Neuralink’s technology uses a robot to surgically place an implant in an area of the brain that controls movement. The system consists of a computer chip attached to small flexible threads. The robot, which resembles a sewing machine, removes a small part of the skull, connects thread-like electrodes to specific parts of the brain, then stitches up the opening.
After the procedure, which Musk says takes only 30 minutes,
remains only a small scar in place of the incision
The billionaire also assured that the operation does not require full anesthesia and that patients can go home the same day.
Although the placement of “Telepathy” in a human brain has so far been successful, a number of experts remained seriously worried about the innovative procedure. Dr Dean Burnett of Cardiff University said the human trials were “disturbing and worrying”. He pointed out to the Daily Mail that Musk “has a huge army of supporters who can volunteer to do this sort of thing”, which is “quite dangerous when it comes to putting things in people’s bodies”.
Dr. Burnett acknowledged that it was likely that Neuralink’s first patient was indeed doing well, but stressed that the risk in this case was different. “The greater danger is that people will see that everything is successful and that the procedure will spread”, he said and added that not every such operation will be “under the spotlight”.
Musk recently commented that he would feel comfortable implanting
a chip in the brain to someone from your children
“I think we are at a stage where, at least in my opinion, it would not be dangerous,” he noted.
Neuralink states that the purpose of “Telepathy” is to allow people to “communicate wirelessly with the world”, with Musk comparing the placement of the implant to “replacing part of the skull with a smartwatch”. The startup also notes: “This would allow us to share our thoughts, fears, hopes and concerns without humiliating ourselves with written or spoken language.”
According to Musk, the chip can help treat various types of paralysis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and neurological diseases.
The billionaire’s company has drawn criticism for its animal experimentation, with complaints from various NGOs alleging that monkeys with Neuralink chips died in particularly painful ways after operations.