Elon Musk's Neuralink to Begin Human Trials of Brain Implant Device

Neuralink received FDA approval to begin human trials of its brain-implant device in May 2023. The company is currently recruiting participants for the trial.

[{"selector":"#anim-30708d00-5f33-42e7-a7fd-b85f22b506a3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee939c6e-fe3d-44b8-b41e-6d142926f189","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Neuralink's brain implant device is a small, wireless chip that is implanted in the brain and can be used to control computers and other devices using the mind.

[{"selector":"#anim-f5f345b8-0e79-4491-ab1d-1c3a075d0048","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d815537-029f-4fae-a177-cd7cf66bf83e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Neuralink is planning to use its brain implant device to treat a variety of neurological disorders, such as paralysis and Parkinson's disease.

[{"selector":"#anim-a93ecee0-f3ef-4e10-935b-c79a03d8132a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-575d5b91-b9fe-412e-830a-4147f61bb573","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Neuralink has raised over $2 billion in funding from investors. The company is using this funding to develop its brain implant device and to conduct human trials.

[{"selector":"#anim-986bee22-cbc9-4b0e-a037-34bb3b950e78","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10ccdf41-5141-475a-a280-950162dcce47","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Neuralink is facing criticism from some experts who are concerned about the safety and ethics of implanting brain-computer interfaces in humans.

[{"selector":"#anim-9bcf38d7-5c01-471b-ba6f-64dea44a16ed","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-548aa1fc-12ca-4052-a143-f297bf7cba95","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Neuralink is one of several companies that are developing brain-computer interfaces. Other companies in this space include Synchron, Kernel, and Paradromics.

[{"selector":"#anim-179d7e57-4e15-467f-adb0-956ec9232d6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81bceae9-e5e9-4a32-87b1-8bb1dfcee99a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Neuralink is headquartered in Fremont, California. The company has over 1,000 employees.

[{"selector":"#anim-77ff9b95-3098-430d-95ea-03eedd82f5f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be583090-3ac9-41de-9165-14f76535588a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Neuralink was founded by Elon Musk in 2016. Musk is also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

[{"selector":"#anim-e71774ad-9be6-4295-a218-1061ad70c959","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-000eaa16-2949-4b58-851e-c17e03971ef7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Neuralink has a controversial history. In 2021, the company was accused of animal welfare violations by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Neuralink has denied these allegations.

[{"selector":"#anim-80935be2-3f24-4449-acfa-4ce107a50781","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-679a17be-5d1c-48e5-bafc-352a611e6c5a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Neuralink is one of the most anticipated companies in the world. The company's brain implant device has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with computers and to treat a variety of neurological disorders.

[{"selector":"#anim-39668ad4-a5c0-495f-959b-8f79a5ac462f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-291e0576-09d3-4cfd-b4fc-2970650b499d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Want to explore more exciting stories?

[{"selector":"#anim-06a1a675-72a7-4a56-9152-d16320f2cf14","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d59dcb8d-edd4-40bd-90b4-5a4e59805b79","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more