Elon Musk’s brain-chip firm. Image source: REUTERS
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has given Elon Musk’s brain-chip technology business permission to start the first phase of human testing.
By creating a link between the human brain and computers, billionaire Elon Musk’s Neuralink implant firm hopes to improve the restoration of vision and mobility.
Although the company has stated that it intends to help in these areas, it does not currently have any imminent plans to start the participant recruitment process.
It’s important to note that Mr. Musk’s earlier intentions to start testing were unsuccessful. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the regulator, has not yet made any official remarks on the subject.
Neuralink’s prior application for FDA approval was apparently denied due to safety concerns, per a March article by the Reuters news agency.
According to the investigation, which drew on the testimony of multiple current and past employees, the business had trouble adhering to the rules governing safety standards.
The chips, which have been tested in monkeys, are designed to interpret brain signals and relay information to devices via Bluetooth.
Mr. Musk has also previously suggested that the proposed technology could help ease concerns about humans being displaced by AI.
Neuralink hopes to use its microchips to treat conditions like paralysis and blindness, as well as to help some disabled people use computers and mobile technology.
When announcing the current development, Neuralink used Twitter to describe it as a “important first step” that might eventually help a lot of people.
The business noted that the Neuralink team’s extraordinary efforts and close collaboration with the FDA resulted to the approval.
Neuralink has promised that it will soon give more information on how it intends to find trial participants. On its website, the business underlines its dedication to giving safety, usability, and dependability first priority throughout the engineering process.
Experts have expressed worry that before Neuralink’s brain implants can be made publicly available, they will need to undergo extensive testing to overcome technical and moral challenges.
The business, which Mr. Musk co-founded in 2016, has come under fire for continually underestimating how quickly it can carry out its goals.
Neuralink initially planned to start implanting chips in people’s brains by 2020, in keeping with a promise made the year before.
The corporation later changed its goal to begin the process in 2022, though.
Experts have expressed skepticism and caution in response to these delays, and they emphasize the need for careful testing and review prior to the technology’s successful implementation.
Neuralink experienced another setback in December of the previous year when it was apparently under investigation for possible violations of animal welfare in its work.
After the corporation had previously disputed similar assertions, this development happened.
In light of recent reports about a comparable development in brain implants made by Swiss researchers, Neuralink’s announcement seeking FDA approval for human studies seems timely.
Through the use of a system of implants that wirelessly transferred his thoughts to his legs and feet, they helped a paraplegic Dutchman walk.
This innovation showed how such technology could help paralyzed people regain their mobility.