Humans will in the very near future be implanted with a chip with a goal to control devices with thoughts.
Neuralink Corp. is an American neurotechnology company that is developing implantable brain–computer interfaces has begun recruiting volunteers for groundbreaking brain-computer implant trials.
An official statement confirms that the company has the green light for its first human test. The PRIME study aims to help paralyzed people operate gadgets using their minds.
A robot will surgically place a thin, flexible implant into the brain. This implant will focus on a region that manages movement.
Once in place, the implant will be almost invisible. It will wirelessly send brain signals to an app. This app will decode the user’s intent to move.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this study.
The initiative marks a key step for Neuralink. Their mission is to create a universal brain interface.
It will offer autonomy to those with unmet medical needs. People with quadriplegia or ALS may qualify.
Tech billionaire, Elon Musk owns the Neuralink Company. He has revealed that he will implant brain chip on himself too, as part of its test on humans.
“We’ve been working hard to be ready for our first human (implant), and obviously we want to be extremely careful and certain that it will work well before putting a device in a human,” he reportedly said.
A prototype with a size of a coin implanted in the skulls of monkeys reportedly enabled the animals “playing” basic video games or move a cursor on a screen.
Background
The Neuralink project is undoubtedly ambitious. It promises to revolutionize the field of assistive technology.
However, ethical considerations come into play. What safeguards will protect volunteers’ mental privacy?
Similarly, what measures will prevent misuse of this tech? These concerns shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Financially, the stakes are high. The neurotech market is predicted to grow considerably. Thus, Neuralink’s success could spur industry-wide growth.
Conversely, a failure could hit investor confidence hard. It might slow down advancements in this emerging field.
Therefore, the PRIME study is much more than a clinical trial. It’s a litmus test for the public’s trust in merging humans with technology.
The implications are vast, affecting healthcare, tech investments, and ethical norms. This makes the study’s outcome a significant milestone in tech history.
