Written by Matt Alexander @therealazmatt
According to a recent report by Ashlee Vance, one of Elon Musk’s biographers, thousands are expressing keen interest in his Neuralink company’s groundbreaking brain implants. Vance, who has extensively visited to Neuralink’s facilities, revealed that while the company has yet to implant its device in a human, plans are underway to operate on 11 individuals next year, with an ambitious goal of more than 22,000 implants by 2030.
Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for Neuralink, co-founded by Musk in 2016, to launch human trials for what Musk has dubbed a “Fitbit in your skull.” This approval followed a previous rejection in March, which cited safety concerns, including the potential movement of wires within the head and overheating issues.
September marked the beginning of Neuralink’s recruitment for its first human trial. Since the company’s primary focus is assisting those with neurological disorders, they are specifically looking for individuals who are suffering from paralysis in all four limbs due to spinal cord injuries or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ultimately, Musk’s company envisions creating a symbiotic relationship between humans and machines, which would allow individuals to send messages or play games using only their thoughts.
Despite the outpouring of interest, Vance noted that Neuralink is still searching for an inaugural volunteer who would be willing to undergo the surgical procedure, which involves the removal of a portion of the skull. This operation, known as a craniectomy, takes several hours and would then be followed by an approximately 25-minute procedure in which a robot inserts the device—a chip with an ultrathin array of about 64 threads, each one-fourteenth the width of a human hair.
Vance noted that Neuralink has used the robot to conduct 155 implantation surgeries on various animal subjects, including pigs and monkeys. Musk’s push for increased speed and a fully automated surgery process, she indicated, showcases the billionaire’s characteristic determination.
As Neuralink’s vision inches closer to reality, the company continues to navigate challenges, balancing innovation with safety in its quest to revolutionize the interface between the human brain and technology.