Tesla, SpaceX, and most recently, the popular social media platform Twitter have been constantly buzzing with Elon Musk’s quietly advancing Neuralink project. In recent times, the entrepreneur has been seeking the necessary approvals from regulatory bodies such as the FDA to conduct human experiments, and in May, he succeeded in obtaining them. He has now given instructions to move on to the next phase of the project. During the VivaTech event, Musk announced the date for the first human trial.
Elon Musk: Neuralink to Begin Human Trials This Year
In May, Neuralink managed to obtain FDA approval to initiate its first clinical trials in humans. Soon after this development, Elon Musk, during the VivaTech event in Paris, stated that he expects the first experiments involving implanting chips into the human brain to commence this year.
According to Elon Musk, the initial experiment will be conducted with a tetraplegic or paraplegic individual. Additionally, the experiment will be broadcasted via webcast. However, the entrepreneur refrained from providing further details about the upcoming human trials, such as the number of patients involved or the duration of the experiment.
The N1 implant, developed by Neuralink, takes the form of a chip that aims to enhance human cognitive abilities, treat neurological disorders, and even compete with artificial intelligence in the future.
The application process is actually quite straightforward. A brain surgeon places this implant, consisting of thin electrode wires, in a position where it can send and receive electrical signals to and from the brain’s nerve cells.