Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk revealed that his brain-chip startup Neuralink is preparing for its first human trial, which is expected to take place later this year. Musk made the announcement during his appearance at the VivaTech event in Paris, where he stated that Neuralink plans to implant its device in a tetraplegic or paraplegic patient. While the specific details regarding the number of patients and trial duration were not disclosed, Musk expressed confidence that the first case will occur in the near future. Alongside his role as CEO of Tesla, Twitter, and SpaceX, Musk aims to advance Neuralink’s groundbreaking technology.
This development follows Neuralink’s recent FDA clearance for its first-in-human clinical trial, a significant achievement for the startup. However, further tests and evaluations are necessary before Neuralink can obtain commercial clearance. The company faces competition from other neurotech companies that have already successfully implemented their devices in humans.
It is worth noting that Musk has previously faced challenges in meeting timelines for Neuralink’s milestones. Since 2019, he has made several predictions about the initiation of human trials that have not come to fruition.
Neuralink encountered setbacks when it initially sought FDA approval in early 2022. The application was rejected due to various safety concerns, including the lithium battery, wire migration within the brain, and the safe extraction of the device without causing damage to brain tissue. Furthermore, the company has faced scrutiny over its animal experiments, with reports suggesting rushed surgeries and unnecessary animal deaths.
These issues have attracted the attention of US lawmakers and regulatory agencies. Investigations have been initiated to examine potential financial conflicts in the panel overseeing Neuralink’s animal testing and whether the transportation of dangerous pathogens violated regulations.
Despite these challenges, Neuralink’s valuation has surged in recent months, reflecting investor confidence. The company’s focus on quick development has led to increased stock value for employees. However, any potential benefits should be viewed in the context of ongoing federal investigations into ethics and animal welfare violations.
In a separate development, Apple announced its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference. The conference also featured updates on new Mac models and upcoming software enhancements. For more detailed discussions on Apple’s WWDC 2023 announcements, tune in to Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. The podcast is available on various platforms such as Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
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