Elon Musk, the founder of Neuralink, announced that the first human patient underwent a brain chip implant produced by the emerging company and is recovering well. Musk revealed in a post on the social media platform “X” on Monday that preliminary results show promising signs of increased neural cells.
The National Institute of Health describes neural cells as cells that utilize electrical and chemical signals to transmit information throughout the brain and body. Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration granted the company permission to conduct its first human brain chip implant trial.
In a separate post on “X,” Musk stated that the Neuralink chip will be called “Telepath.” According to Neuralink’s website, the chip enables individuals suffering from quadriplegia to control devices with their thoughts.
However, Neuralink has faced calls for scrutiny regarding its safety protocols, with Reuters reporting this month that the company was fined for violating US Department of Transportation rules related to transporting hazardous materials.
The company was estimated to be worth about $5 billion in June last year. In late November, four lawmakers requested the US Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether Musk misled investors about the safety of the technology after veterinary records revealed issues with the chip implantation in monkeys, including paralysis and brain swelling.
