Green Light for Elon Musk; Chip Connecting Brain to Computer Approved for Human Trials

Neuralink, the brain implant company owned by Elon Musk, has announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct its first clinical trials. Musk claims that these brain chips can treat a range of conditions including autism, depression, and schizophrenia. Last year, Musk stated that he is confident enough in the safety of these chips that he would be willing to use them on his own children. Seven current and former FDA employees told Reuters in March that the company applied for approval in early 2022 but was denied due to several safety concerns raised by the agency. Major issues included the use of lithium batteries, the potential movement of implant wires within the brain, and the challenge of safely removing the device without damaging brain tissue. The chips are implanted in the brain through surgery with the help of robots and can decode brain activity to connect it to a computer. These brain chips have been tested on monkeys, with one chip implanted in a monkey's brain allowing it to learn to play the video game 'Pong' using only its thoughts. Neuralink has a more aggressive approach compared to some of its competitors. Musk predicts that the chips can be updated regularly. At an event in late November, he stated, 'I am absolutely sure that if the iPhone 14 is available, you wouldn’t want the iPhone 1 stuck in your brain.' Founded in 2016, Neuralink has faced federal investigations multiple times. The U.S. Department of Transportation is investigating the illegal and uncontrolled transport of dangerous pathogens from chips removed from monkey brains. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of the Inspector General is also investigating possible animal rights violations in the company's testing. In May, U.S. lawmakers asked regulators to investigate the hasty testing on animals. Conducting clinical trials of these chips on humans does not guarantee commercial success. Neuralink also faces ethical and security questions arising from this technology, which could create a cognitive advantage for those with implants. The registration section for trial volunteers on Neuralink's website states that only patients with specific conditions - including paralysis, blindness, deafness, or inability to speak - are eligible to participate in the tests, and the start date for the trials has not yet been determined. Elon Musk was named 'Person of the Year' by Time magazine.