Elon Musk's Neuralink firm is in the news but he also owns the rocket company SpaceXElon Musk's brain chip firm Neuralink has said that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved its first human clinical trial, a critical milestone after earlier struggles to gain approval.
The hope is that by doing this, Neuralink would be able to tackle complex neurological conditions which have so far proved beyond the capability of medical intervention. These range from paralysis and blindness to depression and schizophrenia.The procedure would involve implanting a tiny hermetically sealed chip directly into a patient's brain.
The fact that the FDA has approved the start of human testing, however, implies the company has overcome some of the challenges. The final element, ethical safety, is more subjective. Technology like this is riven with concerns about data protection, potential uses and the possibility of human enhancement.
When he speaks, generally people listen and react. His involvement in Neuralink is one of the reasons people are talking about it today.Yes, quite a few are, with some said to be further on in their research than Neuralink. Black Rock Neuro Tech are working on a similar product, also implanting chips into the human brain.