Elon Musk’s Neuralink has been granted approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its first human clinical trial, marking a significant milestone in the company’s mission to create a new way for computers to communicate directly with the human brain. The goal of Neuralink is to address complex neurological conditions that have so far proven to be beyond medical intervention, including paralysis, blindness, depression, and schizophrenia.
The procedure involves implanting a small hermetically sealed chip directly into a patient’s brain. The chip is connected to 1,024 tiny electrodes no thicker than a human hair and powered by a battery that can be recharged wirelessly. It would interface with an external computer, allowing it to send and receive signals.
While the FDA approval represents an important step forward for Neuralink, there are still safety concerns surrounding this technology. Any surgery involving the brain carries inherent risks of physical harm and rejection by the host. Additionally, there are long-term medical concerns about having such a device operating inside the human brain, which is an enormously complex organ that we are just beginning to understand.
There are also ethical security concerns regarding data protection and potential uses of this technology. The possibility of human enhancement raises strong emotions and ethical questions among people who will call for strict regulation of this sector.
Neuralink was founded in California by Elon Musk and seven scientists and engineers in 2016. While other companies are working on similar products like Black Rock Neuro Tech that implants chips into the human brain or Meta (Facebook’s parent company), believed to be working on wearable technology that would allow people to type with their minds, Elon Musk brings an entrepreneurial approach along with his celebrity status as one of the most recognizable and controversial figures globally.
The marrow, while Neuralink’s FDA approval is a significant milestone towards achieving their goal of creating direct communication between computers and brains; however safety remains concerning given the complexity of our brains which we are still learning about. The ethical concerns and potential for human enhancement also call for strict regulation. It is declared that, Neuralink’s success will ultimately depend on which technology works best and who can prove to regulators and markets that it is safe.
Source: bbc
