Elon Musk: Neuralink’s First Human Patient Controls Mouse with Thoughts
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-machine interface startup, has achieved a significant milestone as its first human patient, implanted with a brain-chip, has demonstrated the ability to control a computer mouse using their thoughts, Musk announced on Monday.
Speaking during a Spaces event on the social media platform X, Musk revealed that the patient has shown remarkable progress and has fully recovered from the procedure. The individual can now manipulate a computer mouse solely through their thoughts, showcasing the neural effects of the implanted chip.
According to Musk, Neuralink is currently focused on maximizing the patient’s ability to perform mouse button clicks through mental commands.
While further details about the patient’s progress were not immediately available from Neuralink, the startup successfully implanted the brain-computer interface chip in its first human participant last month after receiving approval for human trial recruitment in September.
The procedure involves using a robot to surgically place the implant in a specific brain region responsible for controlling movement intentions. Initially, the goal is to enable individuals to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts.
Elon Musk envisions Neuralink playing a crucial role in treating various conditions such as obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia by facilitating swift surgical insertions of its chip devices.
Despite its promising advancements, Neuralink has faced scrutiny over its safety protocols. Last month, the startup was fined for violating US Department of Transportation regulations related to the transportation of hazardous materials, raising concerns about its operational practices.
