First Human Receives Neuralink Brain Chip, According to Elon Musk

Elon Musk's Neuralink, a neurotechnology startup, achieved a significant breakthrough by implanting a brain chip in its first human patient, as announced by Musk on Tuesday. The innovative company, co-founded by Musk in 2016, aims to establish direct communication pathways between the brain and computers, to enhance human capabilities and treat neurological disorders.

The Vision for Neuralink

Neuralink's overarching ambition is to revolutionize human potential, offering potential treatments for conditions like ALS and Parkinson's disease, while also envisioning a future where humans and artificial intelligence coexist collaboratively.

Musk's Announcement

Elon Musk shared the milestone achievement via a post on X (formerly Twitter), confirming the successful implantation and noting promising initial results indicating neuron spike detection.

The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well.

Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2024

Regulatory Approval and Technology Overview

Having secured approval from US regulators last year to conduct tests on brain implants in humans, Neuralink's technology revolves around the "Link" implant—a device roughly the size of five stacked coins. This device is surgically implanted into the human brain to facilitate communication with external devices.