Neuralink, a company under Elon Musk's leadership, has generated significant interest in its brain chips, prompting thousands of people to eagerly await the release of this innovative technology. Despite earlier criticism for testing the chips on monkeys, the company's upcoming product has captivated the attention of enthusiasts.
Author Ashlee Vance, renowned for her books on Musk, revealed that thousands are eager to acquire Neuralink's brain implants. Although the chips have yet to be implanted in humans, Vance predicts that 11 individuals will undergo the procedure next year, with a projected 22 thousand by 2030.
Neuralink recently gained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human testing after a previous rejection in March over safety concerns. The company initiated recruitment for its first human experiment in September, specifically seeking individuals paralyzed in all four limbs due to spinal cord injury or ALS.
While Neuralink initially focuses on aiding those with neurological conditions, its long-term vision involves creating a device fostering symbiosis between humans and machines. This would enable individuals to communicate or engage in activities like gaming solely through their thoughts.
Vance highlighted the efficiency of the implantation process, taking approximately 25 minutes, and emphasized the minuscule size of the device's threads—about 1/14th the width of a human hair. Observing Musk's endeavors closely, Vance noted Neuralink's 155 implantation surgeries, encompassing pigs and monkeys, as the tech leader faces competition from other brain-computer startups like Synchron and Onward, which have already commenced human trials.