Neuralink, a tech startup co-founded by Elon Musk, has received approval from the United States’ Food and Drug Administration to test its brain implant on human clinical study of implants which are intended to let the brain interface directly with computers.
This was announced in a statement shared via the company’s official Twitter page on Thursday.
“We are excited to share that we have received the FDA’s approval to launch our first-in-human clinical study!” the tweet read. “This is the result of incredible work by the Neuralink team in close collaboration with the FDA and represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people.”
Musk also commented on the post on Friday, tweeting, “Congratulations to the Neuralink team.”
The implants are meant to allow humans to interface directly with computers. Musk had earlier touted the product as a possible solution for persons living with disabilities, as it could help restore vision and movement. He made headlines late last year after stating that he trusted the device enough to implant them in his children.
Already, the coin-sized implants have been tested on monkeys and pigs.
During a presentation by the company in December last year, Neuralink showed several monkeys playing basic video games or moving a cursor on a computer screen using Neuralink chips implanted in their brains, CBS News reports.
Musk, who also spoke at the presentation said, “We would initially enable someone who has almost no ability to operate their muscles and enable them to operate their phone faster than someone who has working hands.
“As miraculous as it may sound, we are confident that it is possible to restore full body functionality to someone who has a severed spinal cord.”
