Elon Musk says first human patient received Neuralink brain implant and is recovering well

By Greg Wehner FOXBusiness

Published January 29, 2024 8:57pm EST

Billionaire CEO Elon Musk said the first human to receive a Neuralink cybernetic implant did so on Sunday and is recovering well.

In September, Neuralink announced it was holding open recruitment for the first-in-human clinical trial of its wireless brain-computer interface (BCI).

In the announcement, Neuralink said the Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface (PRIME) study would evaluate the safety of the company’s implant (N1) and surgical robot (R1), while assessing whether the device can help paralyzed people control external devices with their thoughts.

On Sunday, the first implant was placed in a human.

"The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well," Musk tweeted on his social media platform X. "Initial results show promising neuron spike detection."

Neuralink logo displayed on a phone screen, a silhouette of a paper in shape of a human face and a binary code

The tech mogul also tweeted that the first version of Neuralink is called Telepathy, explaining that it enables people to control their phone or computer, and through them almost any device, just by thinking.

"Initial users will be those who have lost the use of their limbs," Musk said. "Imagine if Stephen Hawking could communicate faster than a speed typist or auctioneer. That is the goal."

Hawking, the late theoretical physicist, suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease, a rare condition that causes paralysis.

Neuralink received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to proceed with human trials for brain implants back in May.

Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer of Neuralink, SpaceX and Tesla and owner of Twitter

Musk had sought approval for human trials since 2019, but in early 2022, Neuralink’s application was rejected. The company has since worked through concerns expressed by the FDA over the safety of the implant.

Musk launched Neuralink in 2016 with the goal of developing a chip that would allow the brain to control complex electronic devices and eventually allow people with paralysis to regain motor function.

The technology, if successful, would combine artificial intelligence with human capabilities through the use of a brain chip. Musk said he hopes it would help treat brain diseases like Parkinson’s, dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Elon Musk says first human patient received Neuralink brain implant and is recovering well

马斯克表示，第一位人类患者接受了Neuralink脑植入，目前恢复良好

Billionaire CEO Elon Musk said the first human to receive a Neuralink cybernetic implant did so on Sunday and is recovering well.

亿万富翁首席执行官马斯克表示，第一个接受Neuralink脑机控制植入的人于周日完成了植入，目前恢复良好。

In September, Neuralink announced it was holding open recruitment for the first-in-human clinical trial of its wireless brain-computer interface (BCI).

9月，Neuralink公司宣布对无线脑机接口（BCI）首次人体临床试验的公开招募。

In the announcement, Neuralink said the Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface (PRIME) study would evaluate the safety of the company’s implant (N1) and surgical robot (R1), while assessing whether the device can help paralyzed people control external devices with their thoughts.

Neuralink在公告中表示，精确机器人植入脑机接口（PRIME）研究将评估该公司的植入物（N1）和手术机器人（R1）的安全性，同时评估该设备是否可以帮助瘫痪者用思想控制外部设备。

On Sunday, the first implant was placed in a human.

周日，第一次在人体上进行了植入。

"The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well," Musk tweeted on his social media platform X. "Initial results show promising neuron spike detection."

“第一个人类昨天接受了@Neuralink的植入，目前恢复良好”，马斯克在他的社交媒体X上发推道，“初步结果显示神经元尖峰检测展现出了巨大的潜力”。

The tech mogul also tweeted that the first version of Neuralink is called Telepathy, explaining that it enables people to control their phone or computer, and through them almost any device, just by thinking.

这位科技巨头还发推表示，Neuralink的第一个版本叫做Telepathy，并解释说，它能够让人通过思想来控制自己的手机或电脑，并通过它们控制几乎任何设备。

"Initial users will be those who have lost the use of their limbs," Musk said. "Imagine if Stephen Hawking could communicate faster than a speed typist or auctioneer. That is the goal."

“最初的使用者将是那些失去肢体功能的人”，马斯克说道，“想象一下，如果斯蒂芬霍金能比快速打字员或拍卖师更快的交流会是什么样，这就是目标”。

Hawking, the late theoretical physicist, suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease, a rare condition that causes paralysis.

霍金，已故的理论物理学家，患有Lou Gehrig病，这是一种罕见的导致瘫痪的疾病。

Neuralink received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to proceed with human trials for brain implants back in May.

早在五月份，Neuralink就获得了美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）的批准，可以继续进行大脑植入物的人体试验。

Musk had sought approval for human trials since 2019, but in early 2022, Neuralink’s application was rejected. The company has since worked through concerns expressed by the FDA over the safety of the implant.

马斯克从2019年以来一直在寻求批准人体试验，但在2022年初，Neuralink的申请被拒绝。此后，该公司一直致力于美国食品药品监督管理局对植入安全性的担忧。

Musk launched Neuralink in 2016 with the goal of developing a chip that would allow the brain to control complex electronic devices and eventually allow people with paralysis to regain motor function.

马斯克于2016年创立了Neuralink，目标是开发一种芯片，使大脑能够控制复杂的电子设备，并最终使瘫痪患者重新获得运动功能。

The technology, if successful, would combine artificial intelligence with human capabilities through the use of a brain chip. Musk said he hopes it would help treat brain diseases like Parkinson’s, dementia and Alzheimer’s.

这项技术如果成功，将通过大脑芯片将人工智能与人类能力相结合。马斯克表示，他希望这将有助于治疗帕金森氏症、痴呆症和阿尔茨海默氏症等脑部疾病。