Elon Musk’s Neuralink has achieved a major milestone, Musk said, as the first brain implant has been successfully used to control a computer mouse with thoughts; the billionaire entrepreneur previously announced the implant , but without revealing details, he shared the latest news at an X’s Spaces event. The anonymous recipient is reportedly doing well and has no apparent negative side effects from the surgery.
The main focus of Neuralink’s ongoing collaboration with recipients is to enhance the complexity of commands, aiming to achieve more diverse and complex control using brain-computer interfaces. Musk said the company aims to expand basic functions like left and right mouse buttons to include additional commands like mouse down and mouse up. Musk said overall progress looks very promising.
Neuralink began preparing for human trials after receiving regulatory approval in September, using a system it calls “Telepathy.” The implantation process involves using a robotic surgeon to place a brain-computer interface in specific areas of the brain responsible for controlling movement intentions. The original goal was to enable individuals to control a computer cursor or keyboard with their thoughts.
Elon Musk foresees Neuralink’s potential applications going beyond controlling electronic devices. He has ambitious plans for the technology, which envisions chip devices quickly inserted through surgery to treat conditions as diverse as obesity, autism, depression and schizophrenia.
Despite these advances, Neuralink continues to face scrutiny of its safety protocols, with reports of fines for violating U.S. Department of Transportation regulations regarding hazardous materials. However, Musk remains optimistic about the positive results and progress achieved by Neuralink, emphasizing the continuous efforts to improve the technology for wider application.
Speaking of this kind of technology surrounding the brain, it’s worth remembering that in 2008 we reported on the Emotiv Epoc, a brainwave-enabled computer-controlled device. While using the headset, we were able to make the 3D cube rotate on the screen.
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