Elon Musk’s Neuralink has achieved a significant milestone as the first recipient of the brain implant has successfully used it to control a computer mouse with their thoughts, according to Musk; The billionaire entrepreneur, who had previously announced the implantation without divulging details, shared the update during an X’s Spaces event. The recipient, who remains anonymous, is reported to be doing well with no apparent negative effects from the procedure.
The primary focus of Neuralink’s ongoing work with the recipient is to enhance the complexity of commands, aiming to enable more diverse and intricate controls using the brain-computer interface. Musk expressed the company’s goal of expanding beyond basic functions such as left and right mouse clicks to include additional commands like mouse down and mouse up. The overall progress, according to Musk, is looking very promising.
Neuralink initiated preparations for human trials after receiving regulatory approval in September, and the system employed in the trials is referred to as “Telepathy.” The implantation process involves the use of a robot surgeon to place a brain-computer interface in a specific brain region responsible for controlling movement intentions. Initially, the objective is to empower individuals to control a computer cursor or keyboard through their thoughts.
Elon Musk envisions Neuralink’s potential applications extending beyond controlling electronic devices. He has ambitious plans for the technology, anticipating swift surgical insertions of the chip devices to treat various medical conditions such as obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia.
Despite these advancements, Neuralink has faced scrutiny over safety protocols, with reports of fines for violating US Department of Transportation rules relating to hazardous materials — However, Musk remains optimistic about the positive outcomes and advancements achieved by Neuralink, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to refine the technology for broader applications.
Speaking about this kind of tech revolving around the brain, it’s worth remembering that in 2008 we were already covering the Emotiv Epoc, a brainwave-enabled device to control a computer. While using the headset, we were able to make a 3D cube rotate on the screen.
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