Neuralink, Elon Musk’s company that aims to insert a chip into our brains, has started looking for volunteers for the first human experiments to cross an important threshold in its ongoing work since 2020.
It’s been three years since Neuralink first announced its brain-implantable chip. Throughout this process, the company remained at the center of various controversies while continuing its experiments, and last May It has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explained.
Just a few months after the confirmation statements, Neuralink shared an announcement on its website. for human experiments announced that it is opening applications. In the statement, the details of the study and the criteria for applicants were also mentioned.
Although the start of human experiments is exciting, the technologies that Neuralink will test are not new at all.
In the human experiments it will carry out for its project called Neuralink PRIME, it will simply do the following;
- An implant will be placed in the human brain.
- The placement process will be done with a surgical robot.
- After the implant is placed, it will be observed whether cursor and keyboard controls can be made via the interface.
Within the scope of the study, the implant (N1), surgical robot (R1) and brain-computer interface (BCI) system software (N1 User App) developed by Neuralink will be tested. Studies on subjects for 6 years It is planned to continue.
*N1 User App
However, such studies, that is, studies on enabling paralyzed people to control computers or different devices with a brain-computer interface, have already been carried out for a while. So Neuralink, or rather Elon Musk, is the product he has just dreamed of.super brain computer‘ is a long way from the project.
*R1 surgical robot
Thanks to this study, Musk predicts that one day people will be able to experience telepathy with chips installed in their brains. up to interaction with artificial intelligence He says he can do anything. However, it seems that they are still at the beginning of the journey…
What does it take to be one of Neuralink’s first human subjects?
Those who want to volunteer for the PRIME study over 22 years old be paralyzed in both arms or legs due to cervical spine injury, or have Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). At the same time, these people need to have a “consistent and reliable” caregiver.
People who will apply for the experiment should be required to have an active treatment. No need for MRIThey should not have any other implants, should not have a history of seizures, and should not be receiving magnetic stimulation therapy. Applications of people who do not meet these conditions are not accepted.
Applications are made via the link here.