The first human patient implanted with a brain-chip from Neuralink appears to have fully recovered and is able to control a computer mouse using their thoughts, the startup’s founder Elon Musk said late on Monday.
“Progress is good, and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with neural effects that we are aware of. Patient is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking,” Musk said in a Spaces event on social media platform X.
The company received permission to start recruiting participants for a human trial in September and successfully implanted a chip in its first human patient last month.
According to Neuralink, the project use a robot to surgically implant a brain-computer interface device in a part of the brain that regulates movement intention. The ultimate objective, according to Neuralink, is to allow users to manipulate a computer cursor or keyboard with their thoughts.
Musk has high hopes for Neuralink, claiming that it will enable quick surgical placements of its chip devices to cure diseases including schizophrenia, obesity, depression, and autism.
Last year, experts estimated Neuralink’s worth at $5 billion. The company often faces criticism for its safety procedures. Last month, Reuters exposed that the US Department of Transportation had punished the company for breaking regulations regarding hazardous materials transportation.
