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American billionaire and founder of Neuralink Elon Musk said that the first person to receive a brain implant was able to control a mouse on the screen using his thoughts.
Reuters writes about this.
“Progress is good, and the patient appears to have fully recovered, with no negative consequences. He can control a computer mouse, move the cursor around the screen simply by the power of thought,” Musk noted.
He added that Neuralink is now trying to get as many mouse clicks as possible from the patient.
According to the publication, Musk has ambitious plans for Neuralink, saying it will facilitate the rapid surgical insertion of brain chips to treat diseases such as obesity, autism, depression and schizophrenia.
Previously, an American businessman said that the first users of Neuralink would be those who have lost the ability to use their limbs.
Neuralink uses a robot to surgically insert an implant into the area of the brain that controls movement.
Recall that at the end of January 2024, the first person in the world was implanted with a brain implant developed by the Neuralink company of American businessman Elon Musk.
Neuralink chip: prospects for Elon Musk's startup
As writes Reuters, the chip uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit information to the brain and body.
Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed the company to conduct the first human trial of its implant, a major milestone in the startup's quest to help patients overcome paralysis and a host of neurological diseases.
In September, Neuralink announced that it had received approval for human trials.
The study uses a robot to surgically insert an implant into the area of the brain responsible for coordinating movement.
As Neuralink has previously reported, its goal is to allow people to control a computer cursor or keyboard using just their thoughts.
In June last year Neuralink was valued at approximately $5 billion.
Neuralink in September announced a recruitment of volunteers for clinical trials of implanting a chip in the brain, which can also be used to control prosthetics. Musk said that the company plans to create prosthetics as well.
According to him, the cost of such a service could be about $60,000.
As for obtaining permission for commercial use of the developments, Kip Ludwig, former director of neuroengineering at the US National Institutes of Health, estimated that it could take at least another 10 years.
Neuralink is an American company that develops brain implants that will become an interface for interaction between the human brain and an electronic device. The company, founded with the participation of Elon Musk, began its activities in 2016. It was presented in March 2017.