Technology
Elon Musk reveals that Neuralink has already implanted a chip on a human brain
The future is already here for the tech magnate Elon Musk, after revealing that his company has already begun testing brain-computer interfacing, despite controversy and doubts.
Elon Musk, the tech giant billionaire has confirmed on his social networks that his company Neuralink has successfully implanted one of its chips, named “Telepathy”, in a human brain. News that has surprised many people, but it is not the first time that something like this has happened, but it is the most media-worthy of all because of the owner of the company it involves.
What is the purpose of implanting a chip into a human brain?
Many of you will be asking yourself this question, and that is that the objective of Neuralink with the implementation of chips is to connect human brains to computers to help treat complex neurological diseases. With the Telepathy chip, the aim is to help patients with amputated limbs be able to move their robotic prostheses through thought. The chip has been implanted in the part of the brain that manages movement, thus being able to interpret the neuronal activity of the wearer. Neuralink and the novelty of its implant is the bidirectionality of the same, transmitting not only information from the brain to external devices, but also ensuring that this data reaches the brain.
A world full of possibilities and a future that opens before us, with companies also working on future implants that can restore vision or recover basic bodily functions in those who have certain paralysis. A significant technological advance, but one that also fills many people with skepticism and even fear at the possibility that our brain can be continuously monitored.
The first chip in a human brain in history?
Elon Musk tends not to leave anyone indifferent with his statements, but similar devices have already been implanted in human beings before. The teacher Anne Vanhoestenberghe, from King’s College London, stated that “for any company producing medical devices, the first test in humans is a significant milestone. For the brain computer interface community, we must place this news in the context that whilst there are many companies working on exciting products, there are only a few other companies who have implanted their devices in humans, so Neuralink has joined a rather small group.” Furthermore, she did not hesitate to add that “We know Elon Musk is very adept at generating publicity for his company”.