FDA Approves Elon Musk’s Neuralink Implant Trial for Humans
Elon Musk welcomed the FDA’s approval for brain implant company Neuralink to begin testing the technology in humans, but some were uninterested in participating in the clinical trial, calling it “too pushy.”
“We are pleased to announce that we have received FDA approval to begin our first human clinical trial!” Neuralink tweeted on Thursday.
“This is the result of the incredible work of the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people,” the post reads.
“Congratulations, Neuralink team!” Musk said in response.
Neuralink — based in the San Francisco Bay Area and Austin, Texas — first announced in December that it was conducting human clinical trials after sharing it was developing brain-chip interfaces that would benefit the paralyzed and other neurologically disabled Patients could be given the opportunity to move and communicate again.
The technology, which Musk said could also restore sight to a human, has been tested on animals for the past few years, while also seeking FDA approval for human trials.
“Recruitment for our clinical study is not yet possible. We will be announcing more information on this shortly,” the company said.
Many on Musk’s Twitter said they were in no hurry to be used as guinea pigs.
“I’m not really trying to implant a chip in my brain, it’s too intrusive for my liking.” a user tweeted.
“Bro, just make a detachable earbud AI.” another said.
Another called for legislation to regulate Neuralink.
“If it was just to help people with disabilities, it would be great. Unfortunately, we know this is not the case. “There must be laws in place to protect people if the use of this technology gets out of hand.” The user tweeted.
Still another called it “a major turning point in human history, or one of history’s worst creations.”
The FDA confirmed to The Post on Friday that it “has announced to Neuralink that its investigational device exemption (IDE) for its implant/R1 robot has been approved by the FDA and that the company is now conducting clinical trials in humans.” can start for his device.”
The federal agency did not comment further on the technology.
Musk, 51, has repeatedly predicted the brain chip would win FDA approval since announcing in 2019 that Neuralink had successfully implanted his chip in a monkey.
However, federal regulators rejected the company’s regulatory application in early 2022 over safety concerns.
Later that year, he told an audience during a question-and-answer session at a Neuralink event that if needed, he would implant the chip in the brain of one of his own children.
“If you ask a question like, ‘I don’t think I would mind at this point in time implanting this in one of my children or something like that if they were in a serious situation … let’s say if they are break my neck, would I do that?” Are you comfortable with that? I would do that,” Musk said during the December event.
“We’ve gotten to the point where, at least in my opinion, it wouldn’t be dangerous anymore,” Musk added.
