Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, has revealed that its first human patient with a brain chip implant can now control a computer mouse using their thoughts. The successful trial, conducted after the chip was implanted earlier this year, marks a significant step forward in neural technology.
The experimental procedure involved implanting a brain-computer interface in a specific region of the brain responsible for transmitting movement intentions. The patient, whose identity remains undisclosed, has reportedly fully recovered from the implantation without any adverse effects. Neuralink’s ultimate objective is to empower individuals with severe injuries to operate computers simply by utilizing their thoughts.
Elon Musk shared that Neuralink’s focus is on maximizing the number of actions triggered by the patient’s thoughts, potentially enabling tasks such as moving the computer mouse to navigate screens. The company’s vision encompasses restoring lost capabilities, including motor functions, vision, and speech, with the initial target demographic being individuals who have lost limb functionality.
Despite this remarkable progress, criticisms have emerged over the lack of public reporting on the experiment. Some experts emphasize the importance of transparency to prevent raising false hopes among individuals with serious neurological conditions. Meanwhile, other firms in the brain-computer interface field, like Synchron, have been conducting trials and are reportedly ahead in their research.
Neuralink’s future plans entail creating implants to link human brains with computers to aid paralyzed individuals in controlling devices or assist blind individuals in regaining vision. The company’s first offering, named Telepathy, aims to enable control over a computer cursor or keyboard exclusively through thoughts. However, before Neuralink’s brain implants can be widely accessible, regulatory approval is mandatory, with the company under scrutiny for its safety measures.
