Company is seeking people with paralysis to test its experimental device after getting green light from independent review board

Elon Musk’s brain-implant startup, Neuralink, said it has received approval from an independent review board to begin recruiting patients for its first human trial. The company is seeking people with paralysis to test its experimental device in a six-year study.

Neuralink is one of several companies developing a brain-computer interface (BCI) that can collect and analyze brain signals. But its billionaire executive’s bombastic promotion of the company, including promises to develop an all-encompassing brain computer to help humans keep up with artificial intelligence, has attracted skepticism and raised ethical concerns among neuroscientists and other experts.

Last year, the Food and Drug Administration denied the company’s request to fast-track human trials, but in May approved Neuralink for an investigational device exemption (IDE) that allows a device to be used for clinical studies. The agency has not disclosed how its initial concerns were resolved.

  • Tigbitties
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    fedilink
    121 year ago

    We can’t even get VR and AR right ans we don’t even really know what to do with it. What are we going to use neuralink for? Turning off our TV with our minds?

    • @SkyezOpen
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      31 year ago

      What? Vr, while still a developing tech, has come a long way in capability, reliability and affordability.

      • Tigbitties
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        fedilink
        11 year ago

        "come a long way "

        Sure, I agree. But it’s not “there” yet. I’ve had headsets since the DK2. I love VR but it still needs a few years and there’s no real killer app yet. AR is the same if not worse. The Apple headset is interesting but it;s still not close. I’m looking forward to see where it will go.