Elon Musk's Neuralink installs brain implant in its first human patient

Billionaire Elon Musk has said his Neuralink startup installed a brain implant in its first human patient with "promising" initial results.

The neurotechnology company co-founded by Musk aims to build direct communication channels between the brain and computers.

The ambition is to supercharge human capabilities, treat neurological disorders like ALS or Parkinson's, and maybe one day achieve a symbiotic relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.

Musk said in a post on X that the first human received an implant from Neuralink on Sunday and is recovering well.

He added that initial results show promising neuron spike detection. Spikes are activity by neurons, which the National Institute of Health describes as cells that use electrical and chemical signals to send information around the brain and to the body.

The US Food and Drug Administration had given the company clearance last year to conduct its first trial to test its implant on humans.

Neuralink's technology will mainly work through an implant called the "Link" -- a device about the size of five stacked coins that are placed inside the human brain through invasive surgery. Neuralink announced the implant trial in September last year. The Australia-based Synchron implanted its first device in a US patient in July 2022.

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