Wellness

[Mz iMac]

Elon Musk’s brain chip startup starts recruiting patients for its first human test with a goal of helping people control a keyboard ‘using their thoughts alone.

Neuralink, the brain implant startup led by billionaire Elon Musk, is recruiting patients for a clinical trial, a long-awaited step that brings the science fiction-esque technology closer to human reality. 

The company said it was recruiting patients with quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for the trial. Neuralink plans to evaluate the safety and functionality of its tool allowing people to manipulate external devices with their minds.

Early Food and Drug Administration approval for Neuralink’s trial came in May this year with an investigational device exemption, which allows medical device makers to move ahead with human trials. The company said it had also received approval from the hospital where it will perform the first surgeries, but did not name the hospital.

SOURCE:  fortune.com/2023/09/19/elon-musk-brain-chip-startup-neuralink-first-human-clinical-trial/

[NYCLatinaMe]

Yes, and the brain chip will put ads right into our brains and collect all the information that passes through.    

[Mz iMac]

The chip can be hacked & personal info stolen (thoughts???).   The scientist interviewed on TMZ tv show today said precautions will be taken. 

[Snowpuppy]

Conteversial concept, no doubt.

I've known two people in their 50's who developed ALS but neither made it more than 18 mos after diagnosis so I'm wondering what limited data will be gathered?

Elon hasn't developed a thing without dot gov financing.

[millieshops]

I have known only a very few ALS sufferers.  Those I knew were young parents.  I believe those families would have been willing to participate, maybe to help themselves but also to prevent others from losing decades of a useful life.   

What's scary is how to establish control of usage of the information by Musk as well as others.

[ajsidney12]

He, and his companies, I do not trust to properly use any potential information (or thoughts) that they could potentially access.  I do not believe he would use the information for good, let's just say that. 

[Mindy D]

Quadraplegics could benefit from this research if a device is developed that lets them do many things they are unable to do, even if for now, it is typing. I'm all for this research having cared for two paralyzed parents and having a paralyzed cousin, as well as having spent years visiting rehab centers including the VA, I can see how this would be a tremendous help. This research could also be the beginning of the development of other devices that are not keyboard related as well. We already have speech  to text, which has helped so many people, this new technology could help even more. Musk's implant might one day enable quadraplegics to control the use of their arms and legs. 

[Mindy D]

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@Snowpuppy wrote:

Conteversial concept, no doubt.

I've known two people in their 50's who developed ALS but neither made it more than 18 mos after diagnosis so I'm wondering what limited data will be gathered?

Elon hasn't developed a thing without dot gov financing.

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@Snowpuppy @The OP said it is to test for safety and functionality. 

[chessylady]

I had the "pleasure" of dealing with Tesla in transferring solar panels to a new owner after we sold my Dad's house. It was very difficult and took months. They send emails that you cannot respond to. They sent bills that we did not owe and you could rarely talk to a person. I would never deal with Tesla again.

[Desertdi]

I think Musk should be the first guinea pig...