Elon Musk often remains in news headlines for his bold claims, controversial opinions, and unconventional offerings. One such unconventional announcement that had the world talking about him was Neuralink’s brain chip implantation in humans. He claims his brain chips can help humans operate a device using their thoughts. Here’s everything we know about it.
What is Neuralink?
Founded in 2016 by Elon Musk, Neuralink is a neurotechnology startup focused on creating general brain interfaces that help restore autonomy in people with unmet medical needs.
The company currently focuses on giving people diagnosed with quadriplegia the ability to control their mobiles and computers using their thoughts. Neuralink uses brain chips the size of a coin to develop BCI that registers brain activity and sends it to a device for command execution.
How Does it Work?
Neuralink’s brain chips create Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) for proper functioning. They work by reading the electrical signals neurons generate, turning them into computer commands.
Once the chip is implanted in the skull, the brain cells still emanate signals, but they’re blocked from traveling down the spinal cord. While BCIs can be connected to human brains through a surgical implant or a wearable device, Neuralink’s BCI works only by directly implanting its coin-sized device featuring 64 flexible polymer threads.
Not Really a Novel Concept
Neuralink’s brain chips may look fascinating, but they’re not new. The world’s first attempt at implanting a brain-computer interface (BCI) in humans was in the late 1990s by Phil Kennedy, a renowned neurologist. However, experiments on chips and animals began even earlier in the 1960s.
Another attempt was made in 2004 when a tiny device named Utah Array was implanted in a human named Matthew Nagle. This device enabled the recipient, a paralyzed man, to control the computer cursor using his neural impulses. The underlying technology was almost identical to Neuralink’s, making it a close competitor.
Previous Testing Experience
Before providing implants in humans, Neuralink tested its brain chips on animals, including monkeys and pigs.
The company released videos showing several monkeys playing basic video games and moving cursors on screens. While they reported that no animal had died during the testing phase, reports revealed a different picture. Several of the animals experienced severe suffering and even death during implant trials.
Neuralink employees filed several internal staff complaints to initiate a probe into animal welfare violations. FDA inspectors reported quality control lapses at Neuralink’s animal research facility. Missing calibration records, absence of data in instruments like vital sign monitors, unsigned study reports from quality assurance officials, etc., are some instances that raise questions about the entire testing procedure.
Human Implant Trials
Neuralink received permission to test their BCI implants in humans in 2023. It means they haven’t tested the device on any other human before, making it risky and concerning. The first human implant took place in 2024, and the count has reached three till now. Neuralink plans to implant their brain chips in nearly 20 to 30 more people by the end of 2025. While not much is known about the results of previous implants, Elon shared that all recipients are doing well.
Elon shared an update, stating the first patient, who was paralyzed after an accident, managed to play video games and chess using the chip. Thanks to the chip, the second recipient learned to create 3-D objects using computer-aided design software and play video games. The third implant is recent, so we’ll have to wait to see how it turns out after a few months.
Here’s What Experts Have to Say
Elon Musk’s announcement on X about the first human receiving a Neuralink implant stirred conversations among several high-profile circles. Most applauded the event, citing it isn’t a small feat. However, many scientists sounded cautious as the clinical trials are nascent. Robert Gaunt, an associate professor working at the University of Pittsburgh, acknowledged that Neuralink’s BCI implant was an exciting development, but it’s too early to know if it’ll be effective.
Sergey Stavisky, an assistant professor working in the University of California’s neurological surgery department, commented on Neuralink using innovative robotic surgery over a specialized human neurosurgeon to carry out the implant procedure. While he believes that automation can make the process efficient and fast, it’s hard and new, so the company must show that the robot is safe.
Is it Legal to Implant Chips in Humans?
Neuralink secured FDA approval in 2023 to implant its BCI in people, making it legal. According to Dr. Rita Redberg, a cardiologist at San Francisco’s University of California, Neuralink received an investigational device exemption from the FDA. It refers to a pre-market approval for high-risk medical devices launched without clinical studies. While the FDA remains involved in such cases at every step, from recruiting patients to analyzing data, the fact that it hasn’t been tested enough on people makes it terrifying to many.
Practical Barriers to Becoming a Mainstream Consumer Product
While Elon Musk expects its Neuralink BCI to allow people to order a takeaway with their thoughts, search the internet, translate a foreign language in real-time immediately in their head, etc., experts in the field are skeptical about his plans. Prof. Vanhoestenberghe, who teaches active implantable medical devices at King’s College London, says she struggles to see an application of Neuralink’s BCI from which general consumers could benefit from.
According to her, people wouldn’t risk brain surgery just to order a pizza on their phone. Dr. Dean Burnett, an esteemed honorary research fellow, also notices several practical barriers to Neuralink becoming a mainstream consumer product. He believes that everyone’s brain is different and there cannot be ‘one’ chip that fits everyone, doing the exact same thing. All these concerns raise serious questions about Neuralink’s viability to launch mainstream consumer products.
Serious Ethical Concerns
Several ethicists and scientists are raising voices about the potential ethical concerns posed by BCIs. Though well-intentioned, these medical devices can pave the way for identity theft, blackmail, password hacking, etc. Since these devices can access users’ thoughts, there is a possibility that third parties may try to manipulate users’ thoughts and threaten their autonomy.
Besides privacy and ethical risks, some scientists also worry about the damaging long-term effects of implanting Neuralink devices as its components cannot be easily replaced after complete implantation. It’s a serious concern because as technology advances, certain previously implanted components may cease functioning optimally, causing severe damage.
