Elon Musk's brain implant start-up Neuralink has been approved to recruit humans for trials. The trials will focus on patients suffering from paralysis. Musk claims his implants can help the participants walk again. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Neuralink to kick off first human trials

Neuralink, a brain-chip business founded by Elon Musk, announced on Tuesday that it has been given the go-ahead to start recruiting for the first human trial of its brain implant for paralysis patients.

Elon Musk's Neuralink to test its brain chip in paralysis patients

Elon Musk's brain chip startup Neuralink said on Tuesday (September 19) that it would start the first human trial of its brain implant for paralysis patients. In a statement, Neuralink said it received approval from an independent review board to begin recruitment for the trial.

Musk has grand ambitions for the startup, having said it would facilitate speedy surgical insertions of its chip devices to treat conditions like obesity and autism.

Neuralink said those with paralysis due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis might qualify for the study.

The trial will take about six years to complete but it is not yet known how many participants would be enrolled.&nbsp;

"The PRIME Study (short for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) – a groundbreaking investigational medical device trial for our fully-implantable, wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) – aims to evaluate the safety of our implant (N1) and surgical robot (R1) and assess the initial functionality of our BCI for enabling people with paralysis to control external devices with their thoughts," the statement said.&nbsp;

The study would use a robot to surgically place a brain-computer interface (BCI) implant in a region of the brain that controls the intention to move, it said.

The initial goal here is to enable people to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone.&nbsp;

"Once in place, the N1 Implant is cosmetically invisible and is intended to record and transmit brain signals wirelessly to an app that decodes movement intention," the statement added.&nbsp;

Experts have pointed out that even if the BCI device proves to be safe for human use, it would still probably take over a decade for Neuralink to secure commercial use clearance for it.&nbsp;

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Elon Musk's brain chip startup Neuralink said on Tuesday (September 19) that it would start the first human trial of its brain implant for paralysis patients. In a statement, Neuralink said it received approval from an independent review board to begin recruitment for the trial.

Elon Musk's brain chip startup Neuralink said on Tuesday (September 19) that it would start the first human trial of its brain implant for paralysis patients. In a statement, Neuralink said it received approval from an independent review board to begin recruitment for the trial. Musk has grand ambitions for the startup, having said it would facilitate speedy surgical insertions of its chip devices to treat conditions like obesity and autism. Neuralink said those with paralysis due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis might qualify for the study. The trial will take about six years to complete but it is not yet known how many participants would be enrolled. "The PRIME Study (short for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) – a groundbreaking investigational medical device trial for our fully-implantable, wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) – aims to evaluate the safety of our implant (N1) and surgical robot (R1) and assess the initial functionality of our BCI for enabling people with paralysis to control external devices with their thoughts," the statement said. The study would use a robot to surgically place a brain-computer interface (BCI) implant in a region of the brain that controls the intention to move, it said. The initial goal here is to enable people to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone. "Once in place, the N1 Implant is cosmetically invisible and is intended to record and transmit brain signals wirelessly to an app that decodes movement intention," the statement added. Experts have pointed out that even if the BCI device proves to be safe for human use, it would still probably take over a decade for Neuralink to secure commercial use clearance for it. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Elon Musk's Neuralink gets OK for human trial of its brain implant for paralysis patients

Elon Musk&nbsp;announced in France on Friday that his brain-chip startup, Neuralink, is expected to equip the first human being with neural implants "this year".

Speaking at the VivaTech event in Paris, Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla, Twitter, and SpaceX, stated that Neuralink plans to conduct a webcasted implantation procedure.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musks-neuralink-cleared-for-human-test-of-brain-implants-596576">Elon Musk's Neuralink cleared for human test of brain implants</a>

Musk, however, did not provide specific details regarding the number of patients or the duration of the trial.

Last month, Neuralink received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its initial human clinical trial in what was described as a&nbsp;significant milestone for the company.

<h2>Neuralink's animal experiments controversy</h2>

Neuralink is also currently under investigation in the United States for its handling of animal experiments.&nbsp;

Former Neuralink employees have previously&nbsp;revealed that the company rushed and mishandled surgeries on monkeys, pigs, and sheep, resulting in unnecessary animal deaths. Musk allegedly pressured staff to obtain FDA approval, and the animal experiments were intended to support the company's application for human trials.

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Musk's Neuralink gets green light to conduct human trials

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Experts have noted that even if Neuralink demonstrates the safety of its device in humans, it could take several years, possibly more than a decade, to obtain commercial use clearance.

Furthermore, the company faces competition from other neurotech firms that have already implanted their devices in humans.

Musk has previously missed deadlines when making public announcements about Neuralink.

<h2>Safety concerns over Neuralink's implants</h2>

Since 2019, Musk predicted human trials would begin on at least four occasions, multiple reports stated.

Neuralink, founded in 2016, initially sought FDA approval in early 2022 but was rejected due to numerous safety concerns.&nbsp;

These concerns included the lithium battery of the device, the potential migration of implant wires within the brain, and the challenge of extracting the device safely without damaging brain tissue.

<h2>Neuralink's valuation soars</h2>

Despite these controversies, Neuralink's valuation has soared in recent months.

After being valued at nearly $2 billion in a private fundraising round two years ago, the company's worth has now reached approximately $5 billion based on privately executed stock trades.

&nbsp;

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Elon Musk announced in France on Friday that his brain-chip startup, Neuralink, is expected to equip the first human being with neural implants "this year". Speaking at the VivaTech event in Paris, Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla, Twitter, and SpaceX, stated that Neuralink plans to conduct a webcasted implantation procedure.

Elon Musk announced in France on Friday that his brain-chip startup, Neuralink, is expected to equip the first human being with neural implants "this year". Speaking at the VivaTech event in Paris, Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla, Twitter, and SpaceX, stated that Neuralink plans to conduct a webcasted implantation procedure. Also read | Elon Musk's Neuralink cleared for human test of brain implants Musk, however, did not provide specific details regarding the number of patients or the duration of the trial. Last month, Neuralink received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its initial human clinical trial in what was described as a significant milestone for the company. Neuralink's animal experiments controversy Neuralink is also currently under investigation in the United States for its handling of animal experiments. Former Neuralink employees have previously revealed that the company rushed and mishandled surgeries on monkeys, pigs, and sheep, resulting in unnecessary animal deaths. Musk allegedly pressured staff to obtain FDA approval, and the animal experiments were intended to support the company's application for human trials. Also watch | Gravitas: Musk's Neuralink gets green light to conduct human trials × Experts have noted that even if Neuralink demonstrates the safety of its device in humans, it could take several years, possibly more than a decade, to obtain commercial use clearance. Furthermore, the company faces competition from other neurotech firms that have already implanted their devices in humans. Musk has previously missed deadlines when making public announcements about Neuralink. Safety concerns over Neuralink's implants Since 2019, Musk predicted human trials would begin on at least four occasions, multiple reports stated. Neuralink, founded in 2016, initially sought FDA approval in early 2022 but was rejected due to numerous safety concerns. These concerns included the lithium battery of the device, the potential migration of implant wires within the brain, and the challenge of extracting the device safely without damaging brain tissue. Neuralink's valuation soars Despite these controversies, Neuralink's valuation has soared in recent months. After being valued at nearly $2 billion in a private fundraising round two years ago, the company's worth has now reached approximately $5 billion based on privately executed stock trades. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Elon Musk to webcast Neuralink's first brain chip implantation in a human this year

Electric car-maker Tesla has reached a seven-month high in its stock price fueled by insatiable investor appetite for Mega cap. Watch the video to know more.

Tesla's stock hits turbo mode, Neuralink's valuation soars | World DNA

Fueled by the insatiable investor appetite for mega-cap tech stocks and a string of positive news, Tesla Inc. witnessed a remarkable surge in its stock price on Wednesday, reaching a seven-month high. This stunning turnaround comes after a significant plunge in Tesla's stocks last year. Furthermore, Elon Musk's brain implant startup, Neuralink, has been experiencing a meteoric rise in valuation, which highlights the growing investor confidence in future tech-based companies.

Despite recent challenges, Bloomberg reported an impressive surge of 87 percent in Tesla's shares this year, defying expectations and underlining the market's renewed faith in the company's growth potential. The company's stock rally can be attributed to a multitude of factors, including the rush for technology and growth stocks amid waning fears of a recession. Tesla's rebound from last year's significant decline has instilled confidence in investors, with the stock demonstrating remarkable resilience and capturing the attention of market enthusiasts.

Tesla's recent success can be partially attributed to the eligibility of all Model 3 sedans for the full US tax credit, Bloomberg reported. The US Treasury Department's new criteria for the tax credit has allayed concerns surrounding slowing demand for Tesla's vehicles and electric cars in general. Moreover, investor sentiment has been bolstered by the appointment of a new CEO for social media platform Twitter, alleviating concerns about Elon Musk's involvement in multiple ventures. This strategic move has shifted the focus back to Tesla's core operations and provided investors with the reassurance needed to further fuel the stock's rally.

While Tesla's ascent continues, some market observers cited by Bloomberg express caution regarding the perception of Tesla as an artificial intelligence (AI) player. They stress that the company's trajectory will be predominantly influenced by electric cars' supply and demand dynamics in the coming year. Despite Tesla's impressive strides in AI, the jury is still out on whether the company has successfully positioned itself to capitalize on the disruptive potential of generative AI in autonomous driving.&nbsp;

Neuralink's Astonishing Valuation

In parallel to Tesla's remarkable stock surge, Elon Musk's Neuralink has recorded an extraordinary increase in valuation. Reuters reported that the brain implant startup, valued at close to $2 billion in a private fundraising round two years ago, is now worth around $5 billion based on privately executed stock trades. Neuralink's valuation surge comes on the heels of the company receiving approval for a human trial on its groundbreaking brain chip, marking a significant milestone in the company's journey. With grand ambitions ranging from treating obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia to enabling web surfing and telepathy, Neuralink represents a paradigm shift in the realm of brain implants.

(With agency inputs)&nbsp;

Fueled by the insatiable investor appetite for mega-cap tech stocks and a string of positive news, Tesla Inc. witnessed a remarkable surge in its stock price on Wednesday, reaching a seven-month high.

Fueled by the insatiable investor appetite for mega-cap tech stocks and a string of positive news, Tesla Inc. witnessed a remarkable surge in its stock price on Wednesday, reaching a seven-month high. This stunning turnaround comes after a significant plunge in Tesla's stocks last year. Furthermore, Elon Musk's brain implant startup, Neuralink, has been experiencing a meteoric rise in valuation, which highlights the growing investor confidence in future tech-based companies. Despite recent challenges, Bloomberg reported an impressive surge of 87 percent in Tesla's shares this year, defying expectations and underlining the market's renewed faith in the company's growth potential. The company's stock rally can be attributed to a multitude of factors, including the rush for technology and growth stocks amid waning fears of a recession. Tesla's rebound from last year's significant decline has instilled confidence in investors, with the stock demonstrating remarkable resilience and capturing the attention of market enthusiasts. Tesla's recent success can be partially attributed to the eligibility of all Model 3 sedans for the full US tax credit, Bloomberg reported. The US Treasury Department's new criteria for the tax credit has allayed concerns surrounding slowing demand for Tesla's vehicles and electric cars in general. Moreover, investor sentiment has been bolstered by the appointment of a new CEO for social media platform Twitter, alleviating concerns about Elon Musk's involvement in multiple ventures. This strategic move has shifted the focus back to Tesla's core operations and provided investors with the reassurance needed to further fuel the stock's rally. While Tesla's ascent continues, some market observers cited by Bloomberg express caution regarding the perception of Tesla as an artificial intelligence (AI) player. They stress that the company's trajectory will be predominantly influenced by electric cars' supply and demand dynamics in the coming year. Despite Tesla's impressive strides in AI, the jury is still out on whether the company has successfully positioned itself to capitalize on the disruptive potential of generative AI in autonomous driving. Neuralink's Astonishing Valuation In parallel to Tesla's remarkable stock surge, Elon Musk's Neuralink has recorded an extraordinary increase in valuation. Reuters reported that the brain implant startup, valued at close to $2 billion in a private fundraising round two years ago, is now worth around $5 billion based on privately executed stock trades. Neuralink's valuation surge comes on the heels of the company receiving approval for a human trial on its groundbreaking brain chip, marking a significant milestone in the company's journey. With grand ambitions ranging from treating obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia to enabling web surfing and telepathy, Neuralink represents a paradigm shift in the realm of brain implants. (With agency inputs)

Tesla shares surge amidst tech stock frenzy, Neuralink's worth $5 billion now

US' FDA has approved Elon Musk's Neuralink for human trials. FDA earlier rejected Neuralink for human trials due to safety concerns. Will you trust Musk with your brain? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Musk's Neuralink gets green light to conduct human trials

Elon Musk's start-up Neuralink said on Thursday (May 25) that it has gotten approval from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test its brain implants in people.&nbsp;

The decision comes after the company's application was rejected in early 2022, despite Musk's multiple predictions that his brain-chip business will soon receive FDA approval for human trials.&nbsp;

The company worked through the agency's concerns over the safety of the experimental implant.&nbsp;

Neuralink said in a tweet: "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."&nbsp;

Neuralink said clearance from the US regulators is "an important first step" for its technology, which is intended to let brains interface directly with computers.&nbsp;

The company further noted that recruitment is not yet open for our clinical trial and they will announce more information on this soon.&nbsp;

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We are excited to share that we have received the FDA’s approval to launch our first-in-human clinical study! 
 
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…
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The company claims that Neuralink is developing a brain implant it hopes will help paralysed people walk again and cure other neurological ailments.&nbsp;

During a presentation by the start-up in December, Musk said that the aim of Neuralink implants is to enable human brains to communicate directly with computers.&nbsp;

"We've been working hard to be ready for our first human (implant), and obviously we want to be extremely careful and certain that it will work well before putting a device in a human," he said at the time.&nbsp;

Musk once even said that he is comfortable implanting a chip into one of his own children’s brains if it's needed.&nbsp;

The billionaire promised in 2019 that Neuralink would be able to conduct its first human tests in 2020, which couldn't happen. Meanwhile, there were hints regarding how the product will look like as demonstrations showed the prototypes in the size of a coin, implanted in the skulls of monkeys.&nbsp;

During the Neuralink presentation, many monkeys were seen "playing" rudimentary video games or manipulating a cursor on a screen via their Neuralink implant. Musk stated that the company would aim to utilise the implants to restore vision and mobility to people who have lost these abilities.&nbsp;

"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," he said.

"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," he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Elon Musk's start-up Neuralink said on Thursday (May 25) that it has gotten approval from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test its brain implants in people.

Elon Musk's start-up Neuralink said on Thursday (May 25) that it has gotten approval from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test its brain implants in people. The decision comes after the company's application was rejected in early 2022, despite Musk's multiple predictions that his brain-chip business will soon receive FDA approval for human trials. The company worked through the agency's concerns over the safety of the experimental implant. Neuralink said in a tweet: "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." Neuralink said clearance from the US regulators is "an important first step" for its technology, which is intended to let brains interface directly with computers. The company further noted that recruitment is not yet open for our clinical trial and they will announce more information on this soon. We are excited to share that we have received the FDA’s approval to launch our first-in-human clinical study! 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… — Neuralink (@neuralink) May 25, 2023 × The company claims that Neuralink is developing a brain implant it hopes will help paralysed people walk again and cure other neurological ailments. During a presentation by the start-up in December, Musk said that the aim of Neuralink implants is to enable human brains to communicate directly with computers. "We've been working hard to be ready for our first human (implant), and obviously we want to be extremely careful and certain that it will work well before putting a device in a human," he said at the time. Musk once even said that he is comfortable implanting a chip into one of his own children’s brains if it's needed. The billionaire promised in 2019 that Neuralink would be able to conduct its first human tests in 2020, which couldn't happen. Meanwhile, there were hints regarding how the product will look like as demonstrations showed the prototypes in the size of a coin, implanted in the skulls of monkeys. During the Neuralink presentation, many monkeys were seen "playing" rudimentary video games or manipulating a cursor on a screen via their Neuralink implant. Musk stated that the company would aim to utilise the implants to restore vision and mobility to people who have lost these abilities. "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," he said. "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," he added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Elon Musk's Neuralink cleared for human test of brain implants

Elon Musk's startup Neuralink said on Thursday that it has got an approval from the US Food and Administration to test its brain implants in people. The decision comes after the company's application was rejected in early 2022, despite Musk's multiple predictions that his brain-chip business will soon receive FDA approval for human trials. The company worked through the agency's concerns over the safety of the experimental implant.

Neuralink, which is Elon Musk's brain implant company, has apparently approached one of the biggest neurosurgery centres in the United States.&nbsp;

The company reportedly deems the centres as a potential clinical trials partner. News agency Reuters reported that according to six people familiar with the matter, the tech company prepares to test its devices on humans once regulators allow for it. &nbsp;

California-based Neuralink is a US neurotechnology company that develops implantable brain–computer interfaces.

The company hopes it will eventually be a cure for intractable conditions such as paralysis and blindness.

It has been developing brain implants since 2016.&nbsp;The idea appeared to be revolutionary, but the US Food and Drug Administration rejected its application to progress to human trials in early 2022.&nbsp;

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According to a Reuters report, FDA cited major safety concerns. Meanwhile, the company has since been working to address the agency's concerns, and it is unclear if and when it will be successful.

Neuralink has been talking to Barrow Neurological Institute, a Phoenix, Arizona-based neurological disease treatment and research organization, to help carry out the human trials, the sources said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Neuralink, which is Elon Musk's brain implant company, has apparently approached one of the biggest neurosurgery centres in the United States. The company reportedly deems the centres as a potential clinical trials partner.

Neuralink, which is Elon Musk's brain implant company, has apparently approached one of the biggest neurosurgery centres in the United States. The company reportedly deems the centres as a potential clinical trials partner. News agency Reuters reported that according to six people familiar with the matter, the tech company prepares to test its devices on humans once regulators allow for it. California-based Neuralink is a US neurotechnology company that develops implantable brain–computer interfaces. The company hopes it will eventually be a cure for intractable conditions such as paralysis and blindness. It has been developing brain implants since 2016. The idea appeared to be revolutionary, but the US Food and Drug Administration rejected its application to progress to human trials in early 2022. × According to a Reuters report, FDA cited major safety concerns. Meanwhile, the company has since been working to address the agency's concerns, and it is unclear if and when it will be successful. Neuralink has been talking to Barrow Neurological Institute, a Phoenix, Arizona-based neurological disease treatment and research organization, to help carry out the human trials, the sources said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Elon Musk's brain implant company in search of human trials partner

The United States administration said on Thursday (February 9) that it was investigating Elon Musk's Neuralink- a brain implant company over the potentially illegal movement of hazardous pathogens. A spokesperson from the Department of Transportation informed news agency Reuters about the investigation after the Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine (PCRM) wrote to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to alert it of records it obtained on the issue.&nbsp;

The PCRM, which is an animal-welfare advocacy group, said it had obtained emails and other documents which suggested unsafe packaging and movement of implants removed from the brains of monkeys. The PCRM added that these implants may have carried infectious diseases in violation of federal law.&nbsp;

On Thursday, the Department of Transportation spokesperson told Reuters that the above allegations levelled by the PCRM should be taken very seriously. "We are conducting an investigation to ensure that Neuralink is in full compliance with federal regulations and keeping their workers and the public safe from potentially dangerous pathogens," the spokesperson added.&nbsp;

Neuralink is developing a brain implant which it hopes would help paralysed people walk again and cure other neurological ailments. The PCRM has raised concerns about this company of Elon Musk in the past. In December last year, Neuralink had been under a federal investigation over potential animal welfare violations, and some of its employees made internal complaints about experiments being rushed which caused needless suffering and deaths.

As per documents cited by the PCRM, incidents which involved potential breaches of hazardous material transportation regulations happened in 2019, when the company relied on the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) to help carry out its experiments on primates. Neuralink's partnership with UC Davis ended a year later (in 2020).

However, the PCRM said that Elon Musk's company continued to employ the neurosurgeon who oversaw experiments and other staff involved might also still be employed.&nbsp;

A letter by PCRM said that pathogens were carried on removed from monkeys after improper sanitisation and packaging. It added these pathogens could cause serious health problems in human beings including severe brain damage and pneumonia. The PCRM did not identify any harm as a result of these above incidents but pointed out that Neuralink's actions might pose a serious and ongoing public health risk, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

The animal-welfare advocacy group further said that it found instances that appeared to describe UC Davis employees urging immediate biohazard training for Neuralink employees following incidents which caused contamination concerns. In one such case in 2019, an employee in the university wrote in an email that the university's primate centre was “at risk” for “monkey-contaminated hardware.”

Also in 2022, PCRM wrote to federal officials about the alleged animal-welfare issues during Neuralink's research partnership with the University of California, Davis, citing a set of records it obtained. Reuters had earlier reported that a prosecutor in the Northern District of California had referred the PCRM's complaint to the inspector general of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which later launched the federal investigation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The United States administration said on Thursday (February 9) that it was investigating Elon Musk's Neuralink- a brain implant company over the potentially illegal movement of hazardous pathogens.

The United States administration said on Thursday (February 9) that it was investigating Elon Musk's Neuralink- a brain implant company over the potentially illegal movement of hazardous pathogens. A spokesperson from the Department of Transportation informed news agency Reuters about the investigation after the Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine (PCRM) wrote to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to alert it of records it obtained on the issue. The PCRM, which is an animal-welfare advocacy group, said it had obtained emails and other documents which suggested unsafe packaging and movement of implants removed from the brains of monkeys. The PCRM added that these implants may have carried infectious diseases in violation of federal law. On Thursday, the Department of Transportation spokesperson told Reuters that the above allegations levelled by the PCRM should be taken very seriously. "We are conducting an investigation to ensure that Neuralink is in full compliance with federal regulations and keeping their workers and the public safe from potentially dangerous pathogens," the spokesperson added. Neuralink is developing a brain implant which it hopes would help paralysed people walk again and cure other neurological ailments. The PCRM has raised concerns about this company of Elon Musk in the past. In December last year, Neuralink had been under a federal investigation over potential animal welfare violations, and some of its employees made internal complaints about experiments being rushed which caused needless suffering and deaths. As per documents cited by the PCRM, incidents which involved potential breaches of hazardous material transportation regulations happened in 2019, when the company relied on the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) to help carry out its experiments on primates. Neuralink's partnership with UC Davis ended a year later (in 2020). However, the PCRM said that Elon Musk's company continued to employ the neurosurgeon who oversaw experiments and other staff involved might also still be employed. A letter by PCRM said that pathogens were carried on removed from monkeys after improper sanitisation and packaging. It added these pathogens could cause serious health problems in human beings including severe brain damage and pneumonia. The PCRM did not identify any harm as a result of these above incidents but pointed out that Neuralink's actions might pose a serious and ongoing public health risk, Reuters reported. The animal-welfare advocacy group further said that it found instances that appeared to describe UC Davis employees urging immediate biohazard training for Neuralink employees following incidents which caused contamination concerns. In one such case in 2019, an employee in the university wrote in an email that the university's primate centre was “at risk” for “monkey-contaminated hardware.” Also in 2022, PCRM wrote to federal officials about the alleged animal-welfare issues during Neuralink's research partnership with the University of California, Davis, citing a set of records it obtained. Reuters had earlier reported that a prosecutor in the Northern District of California had referred the PCRM's complaint to the inspector general of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which later launched the federal investigation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US investigating Elon Musk's brain implant company Neuralink. Here's why

Elon Musk's brain-implant company Neuralink has been accused of moving hazardous pathogens into the body of animals, following which, an animal welfare organisation said that it plans to ask a United States government agency to investigate the firm's doings.&nbsp;The Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation, claims to have obtained emails and other documents that suggest unsafe packaging and movement of implants removed from the brains of monkeys.

These implants may have carried infectious diseases in violation of federal law, PCRM said. The letter further cited&nbsp;that the records it obtained showed instances of pathogens, such as antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus and herpes B virus.&nbsp;They may have been transported without proper containment measures.

PCRM’s letter said pathogens were carried on removed implants from monkeys after improper sanitisation and packaging. The group said those pathogens could cause serious health issues in infected humans, such as bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and severe brain damage, among other problems.

"The company’s documented track record of sloppy, unsafe laboratory practices compel DOT to investigate and levy appropriate fines,"&nbsp;PCRM said in the letter.

<h2>What does it mean for Elon Musk's Neuralink?</h2>

PCRM’s letter adds to the scrutiny facing Neuralink, which is developing a brain implant. This brain implant, the company claims,&nbsp;will help paralysed people walk again and cure other neurological ailments.

In December, Reuters reported that Neuralink has been under a federal investigation over potential animal welfare violations and that some of its staff made internal complaints about experiments being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths. Elon Musk in December 2022 said that the Neuralink device is ready for humans.

"So timing is a function of working through the FDA approval process," Musk had said.&nbsp;

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Elon Musk's brain-implant company Neuralink has been accused of moving hazardous pathogens into the body of animals, following which, an animal welfare organisation said that it plans to ask a United States government agency to investigate the firm's doings.

Elon Musk's brain-implant company Neuralink has been accused of moving hazardous pathogens into the body of animals, following which, an animal welfare organisation said that it plans to ask a United States government agency to investigate the firm's doings. The Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation, claims to have obtained emails and other documents that suggest unsafe packaging and movement of implants removed from the brains of monkeys. These implants may have carried infectious diseases in violation of federal law, PCRM said. The letter further cited that the records it obtained showed instances of pathogens, such as antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus and herpes B virus. They may have been transported without proper containment measures. PCRM’s letter said pathogens were carried on removed implants from monkeys after improper sanitisation and packaging. The group said those pathogens could cause serious health issues in infected humans, such as bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and severe brain damage, among other problems. "The company’s documented track record of sloppy, unsafe laboratory practices compel DOT to investigate and levy appropriate fines," PCRM said in the letter. What does it mean for Elon Musk's Neuralink? PCRM’s letter adds to the scrutiny facing Neuralink, which is developing a brain implant. This brain implant, the company claims, will help paralysed people walk again and cure other neurological ailments. In December, Reuters reported that Neuralink has been under a federal investigation over potential animal welfare violations and that some of its staff made internal complaints about experiments being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths. Elon Musk in December 2022 said that the Neuralink device is ready for humans. "So timing is a function of working through the FDA approval process," Musk had said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Animal Rights advocates ask US government to probe Elon Musk's Neuralink

Law enforcement officials investigating Elon Musk's Neuralink Corp over its animal trial programme are also scrutinising the US&nbsp;Department of Agriculture’s oversight of the company's operations, after the agency failed to act on violations at other research organizations, according to several people familiar with the matter.

Reuters reported on Dec. 5 that the USDA's watchdog, the Office of the Inspector General, is investigating Neuralink, a medical device company that is developing brain implants, over potential animal welfare violations. A federal prosecutor in the civil division at the US&nbsp;Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California requested the probe, people familiar with the matter said.

Reuters was unable to determine what potential violations are being investigated. The Dec. 5 report identified four experiments in recent years, involving 86 pigs and two monkeys, that were marred by human errors. The mistakes weakened the experiments’ research value and required the tests to be repeated, leading to more animals being killed.

Given that the USDA cleared Neuralink's facilities during eight visits in the last three years, federal investigators believe there is merit in reviewing the USDA's oversight of the company as it considers potential animal welfare violations, said the individuals who are familiar with the investigation.

These sources said the decision by federal investigators to scrutinise the USDA was bolstered by criticism from the USDA's Office of the Inspector General, which has for years described the agency as overstretched and ineffective.

In 2014, the watchdog noted in a report that the department’s enforcement office “had a backlog of over 2,000 cases, a volume so large that (animal inspectors) could not quickly address serious violations.”

A USDA spokesperson told Reuters the agency could not comment on anything related to Neuralink and referred all requests to the inspector general, whose office declined to comment. The agency did not respond to requests for comment on its record monitoring animal research experiments nationally.

The Justice Department and the US&nbsp;Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California declined to comment. Spokespersons for Neuralink and Musk did not respond to comment requests.

The USDA's handling of a recent high-profile case involving Envigo, a research and dog breeding facility, also factored into the federal investigators’ decision to look at the agency's oversight of Neuralink, the sources told Reuters.

In that case, law enforcement officials eventually intervened, filing charges against the firm this year that resulted in a civil consent decree that required Envigo to give up around 4,000 beagles to the Humane Society of the United States.

The parent company for Envigo said in a statement to Reuters that it did not need to pay any fines or admit wrongdoing in its agreement with the Justice Department.

GREAT LEEWAY

A Reuters review of government records and interviews with two current and former USDA employees, one lawmaker and more than a dozen animal welfare experts paint a picture of an overextended agency that struggles to regulate animal testing.

The USDA’s animal care unit employs just 122 inspectors countrywide. They are responsible for the oversight of 11,785 facilities, including labs, breeders and zoos, the Congressional Research Service, which conducts analyses for the US&nbsp;Congress, reported in July.

The USDA inspector general has published at least three reports since 2014 critical of the agency’s lax oversight, though its criticism dates back to the 1990s.

The lack of resources means the agency is often not able to hold researchers accountable when they fail to comply with the law, the inspector general found in its 2014 audit.

The USDA's lab inspectors operate separately from the agency's inspector general, which audits the USDA and investigates animal-welfare crimes to assist U.S. prosecutors.

The law gives animal researchers great leeway to conduct various tests, though companies can be sanctioned when they don’t conduct experiments in the manner that their committees approved, according to three experts on the regulations interviewed by Reuters.

Some advocates of the current system – many of whom work in medical research – argue it affords researchers the freedom they need to advance life-saving medical treatments.

Naomi Charalambakis, the associate director of science policy for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, said animal research was already "highly regulated, highly scrutinised" and that no further regulation is needed.&nbsp;She said she did not believe that what Reuters reported occurred at Neuralink is representative of the vast majority of research labs.

The Animal Welfare Act, which governs animal experiments, omits mice and rats. This is despite them making up the vast majority of all animals used, including at Neuralink, according to more than a dozen current and former company employees.

The law dictates that research facilities form committees to review the use and care of animals in experiments. Only one committee member has to be unaffiliated with the research facility. In human trials, all panel members involved in the oversight must be independent to avoid undue corporate pressure and other conflicts of interest.

Neuralink’s animal care director Autumn Sorrells leads the company’s committee, which consists of more than half a dozen Neuralink employees and three outsiders, according to internal company documents reviewed by Reuters.

Sorrells did not respond to a request for comment. Neuralink says on its website that it champions animal welfare and tries to reduce animal testing where possible.

Two academic studies conducted in 2009 and 2012 found that animal research committees approved between 98% and 99% of experiments proposed by researchers.

The USDA was especially accommodating under former U.S. President Donald Trump, when the agency allowed researchers to avoid violations if they reported them first.

In 2019 Neuralink and its research partner at the time, the University of California Davis, self-reported an incident in which a Neuralink surgeon used a sealant on a monkey to close a void between two brain implants without the glue having been approved by the research committee, according to emails and public records obtained by advocacy group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).

A spokesperson for the university declined to comment.

The USDA decided there was no violation because of the rule change introduced in 2018 under the Trump administration, Robert Gibbens, an agency official, told PCRM on Dec. 6 in an email seen by Reuters.

"The facility discovered the noncompliance using its own compliance monitoring program, and immediately took appropriate corrective action and established measures to prevent recurrence," Gibbens wrote in the email. "Therefore ... there were no citations on the inspection report."

The USDA last year changed its policy so that self-reporting a violation no longer avoids a citation.

Gibbens referred Reuters to a USDA spokesperson, who did not respond to a request for comment.

LIMITED CONSEQUENCES

Two animal researchers told Reuters that USDA sanctions for any infractions they committed would be minor compared to the resources and funding of their institutions.

The USDA’s maximum fine of $12,771 per day per animal is rarely doled out, and the usual fines, potentially in the couple-thousands of dollars, are viewed by violators as "a normal cost of business," the inspector general found in a report in 2014.

The inspector general audits the animal inspection program sporadically and the maximum penalties haven’t changed since then.

Moreover, the vast majority of violations result in warnings or no action at all, according to a 2017 analysis by Delcianna Winders, an animal law expert at the Vermont Law and Graduate School. Her research found that issuing mere warnings frequently failed to incentivize compliance with the law.

The analyses by Winders and the inspector general are the most recent Reuters found. This year, the agency has fined only two research facilities – for less than $6,000 each – and issued warnings to five labs, public filings show.

The USDA’s inspection service said in 2021 it opened only 118 cases following 7,670 site inspections, issued 58 official warnings, obtained eight administrative orders and suspended one facility’s license for five years.

Some animal-welfare advocates interviewed by Reuters point to such statistics in arguing that more enforcement is needed.

“There has been this culture of non-enforcement that permeates the agency,” said Ingrid Seggerman, senior director of federal affairs for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The agency’s handling of Envigo is a case in point, these advocates say. Beginning in 2021, USDA inspectors uncovered multiple violations at Envigo's facilities during routine inspections, including maggot-infested dog food and more than 300 dead puppies, but took no action.

Reuters could not determine why the agency did not intervene to address what U.S. prosecutors later called violations of animal-welfare laws.

Envigo was made to sign the consent decree giving up the beagles only after the USDA inspector general and the Justice Department investigated and found evidence of inhumane treatment.

USDA inspectors cannot review every facility each year, despite their mandate to do so, because of their limited resources, and inspect about 65 percent of them instead, the Congressional Research Service reported this year.

Only about 0.008% of the agency’s most recent budget of $430 billion goes to enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, according to Eric Kleiman, a researcher at the Animal Welfare Institute, an advocacy group. The figures were confirmed by Reuters.

“This funding is a pittance, as you can see, compared to the wealth, size and power of, say, many research facilities, let alone Elon Musk,” Kleiman said.

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Law enforcement officials investigating Elon Musk's Neuralink Corp over its animal trial programme are also scrutinising the US Department of Agriculture’s oversight of the company's operations, after the agency failed to act on violations at other research organizations, according to several people familiar with the matter.

Law enforcement officials investigating Elon Musk's Neuralink Corp over its animal trial programme are also scrutinising the US Department of Agriculture’s oversight of the company's operations, after the agency failed to act on violations at other research organizations, according to several people familiar with the matter. Reuters reported on Dec. 5 that the USDA's watchdog, the Office of the Inspector General, is investigating Neuralink, a medical device company that is developing brain implants, over potential animal welfare violations. A federal prosecutor in the civil division at the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California requested the probe, people familiar with the matter said. Reuters was unable to determine what potential violations are being investigated. The Dec. 5 report identified four experiments in recent years, involving 86 pigs and two monkeys, that were marred by human errors. The mistakes weakened the experiments’ research value and required the tests to be repeated, leading to more animals being killed. Given that the USDA cleared Neuralink's facilities during eight visits in the last three years, federal investigators believe there is merit in reviewing the USDA's oversight of the company as it considers potential animal welfare violations, said the individuals who are familiar with the investigation. These sources said the decision by federal investigators to scrutinise the USDA was bolstered by criticism from the USDA's Office of the Inspector General, which has for years described the agency as overstretched and ineffective. In 2014, the watchdog noted in a report that the department’s enforcement office “had a backlog of over 2,000 cases, a volume so large that (animal inspectors) could not quickly address serious violations.” A USDA spokesperson told Reuters the agency could not comment on anything related to Neuralink and referred all requests to the inspector general, whose office declined to comment. The agency did not respond to requests for comment on its record monitoring animal research experiments nationally. The Justice Department and the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California declined to comment. Spokespersons for Neuralink and Musk did not respond to comment requests. The USDA's handling of a recent high-profile case involving Envigo, a research and dog breeding facility, also factored into the federal investigators’ decision to look at the agency's oversight of Neuralink, the sources told Reuters. In that case, law enforcement officials eventually intervened, filing charges against the firm this year that resulted in a civil consent decree that required Envigo to give up around 4,000 beagles to the Humane Society of the United States. The parent company for Envigo said in a statement to Reuters that it did not need to pay any fines or admit wrongdoing in its agreement with the Justice Department. GREAT LEEWAY A Reuters review of government records and interviews with two current and former USDA employees, one lawmaker and more than a dozen animal welfare experts paint a picture of an overextended agency that struggles to regulate animal testing. The USDA’s animal care unit employs just 122 inspectors countrywide. They are responsible for the oversight of 11,785 facilities, including labs, breeders and zoos, the Congressional Research Service, which conducts analyses for the US Congress, reported in July. The USDA inspector general has published at least three reports since 2014 critical of the agency’s lax oversight, though its criticism dates back to the 1990s. The lack of resources means the agency is often not able to hold researchers accountable when they fail to comply with the law, the inspector general found in its 2014 audit. The USDA's lab inspectors operate separately from the agency's inspector general, which audits the USDA and investigates animal-welfare crimes to assist U.S. prosecutors. The law gives animal researchers great leeway to conduct various tests, though companies can be sanctioned when they don’t conduct experiments in the manner that their committees approved, according to three experts on the regulations interviewed by Reuters. Some advocates of the current system – many of whom work in medical research – argue it affords researchers the freedom they need to advance life-saving medical treatments. Naomi Charalambakis, the associate director of science policy for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, said animal research was already "highly regulated, highly scrutinised" and that no further regulation is needed. She said she did not believe that what Reuters reported occurred at Neuralink is representative of the vast majority of research labs. The Animal Welfare Act, which governs animal experiments, omits mice and rats. This is despite them making up the vast majority of all animals used, including at Neuralink, according to more than a dozen current and former company employees. The law dictates that research facilities form committees to review the use and care of animals in experiments. Only one committee member has to be unaffiliated with the research facility. In human trials, all panel members involved in the oversight must be independent to avoid undue corporate pressure and other conflicts of interest. Neuralink’s animal care director Autumn Sorrells leads the company’s committee, which consists of more than half a dozen Neuralink employees and three outsiders, according to internal company documents reviewed by Reuters. Sorrells did not respond to a request for comment. Neuralink says on its website that it champions animal welfare and tries to reduce animal testing where possible. Two academic studies conducted in 2009 and 2012 found that animal research committees approved between 98% and 99% of experiments proposed by researchers. The USDA was especially accommodating under former U.S. President Donald Trump, when the agency allowed researchers to avoid violations if they reported them first. In 2019 Neuralink and its research partner at the time, the University of California Davis, self-reported an incident in which a Neuralink surgeon used a sealant on a monkey to close a void between two brain implants without the glue having been approved by the research committee, according to emails and public records obtained by advocacy group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). A spokesperson for the university declined to comment. The USDA decided there was no violation because of the rule change introduced in 2018 under the Trump administration, Robert Gibbens, an agency official, told PCRM on Dec. 6 in an email seen by Reuters. "The facility discovered the noncompliance using its own compliance monitoring program, and immediately took appropriate corrective action and established measures to prevent recurrence," Gibbens wrote in the email. "Therefore ... there were no citations on the inspection report." The USDA last year changed its policy so that self-reporting a violation no longer avoids a citation. Gibbens referred Reuters to a USDA spokesperson, who did not respond to a request for comment. LIMITED CONSEQUENCES Two animal researchers told Reuters that USDA sanctions for any infractions they committed would be minor compared to the resources and funding of their institutions. The USDA’s maximum fine of $12,771 per day per animal is rarely doled out, and the usual fines, potentially in the couple-thousands of dollars, are viewed by violators as "a normal cost of business," the inspector general found in a report in 2014. The inspector general audits the animal inspection program sporadically and the maximum penalties haven’t changed since then. Moreover, the vast majority of violations result in warnings or no action at all, according to a 2017 analysis by Delcianna Winders, an animal law expert at the Vermont Law and Graduate School. Her research found that issuing mere warnings frequently failed to incentivize compliance with the law. The analyses by Winders and the inspector general are the most recent Reuters found. This year, the agency has fined only two research facilities – for less than $6,000 each – and issued warnings to five labs, public filings show. The USDA’s inspection service said in 2021 it opened only 118 cases following 7,670 site inspections, issued 58 official warnings, obtained eight administrative orders and suspended one facility’s license for five years. Some animal-welfare advocates interviewed by Reuters point to such statistics in arguing that more enforcement is needed. “There has been this culture of non-enforcement that permeates the agency,” said Ingrid Seggerman, senior director of federal affairs for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The agency’s handling of Envigo is a case in point, these advocates say. Beginning in 2021, USDA inspectors uncovered multiple violations at Envigo's facilities during routine inspections, including maggot-infested dog food and more than 300 dead puppies, but took no action. Reuters could not determine why the agency did not intervene to address what U.S. prosecutors later called violations of animal-welfare laws. Envigo was made to sign the consent decree giving up the beagles only after the USDA inspector general and the Justice Department investigated and found evidence of inhumane treatment. USDA inspectors cannot review every facility each year, despite their mandate to do so, because of their limited resources, and inspect about 65 percent of them instead, the Congressional Research Service reported this year. Only about 0.008% of the agency’s most recent budget of $430 billion goes to enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, according to Eric Kleiman, a researcher at the Animal Welfare Institute, an advocacy group. The figures were confirmed by Reuters. “This funding is a pittance, as you can see, compared to the wealth, size and power of, say, many research facilities, let alone Elon Musk,” Kleiman said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Probe of Musk's Neuralink to scrutinise long-criticised US animal welfare regulator for oversight

Neuralink is developing a brain implant in hopes to help paralysed people walk again. But now Musk's company is under the federal scanner for potential animal-welfare violations.

Gravitas: 1500 animals killed in Neuralink trials

Elon Musk's Neuralink, is under federal investigation over alleged animal-welfare violations amid internal staff complaints. Watch this video to know more.

Elon Musk's Neuralink faces federal probe, says report

A new report says that about 1,500 animals have died at Neuralink, a brain chip company owned by Elon Musk. Employees say the excessive deaths are because of the pressure Musk puts on the team.

WION Fineprint | Excessive animal deaths at Musk's Neuralink?

Elon Musk’s start-up medical device company, Neuralink, has come under the scanner of the US government over alleged animal-welfare violations, reports Reuters news agency, citing internal documents and sources close to the investigation.

More than 20 current and former staff have told Reuters that its animal testing is being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths.

The probe by the US Department of Agriculture recently began its investigation after a request from the federal prosecutor, Reuters said quoting two sources with knowledge of the probe.&nbsp;

Neuralink is developing a brain implant that it claims will help paralysed people walk again and cure other neurological ailments.

It is being claimed that since 2018, roughly 1,500 animals, including more than 280 sheep, pigs and monkeys, have been killed due to experiments.

Reuters, which has quoted sources with direct knowledge of the company’s animal-testing operations, said that the figure was a rough estimate as the company does not keep a record of how many animals were tested and killed.

Moreover, the employees claimed that CEO Musk has been pressurising them to accelerate animal testing, resulting in botched experiments.

<h2>Elon Musk expects Neuralink’s chip to begin human trials in six months</h2>

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"We are simply not moving fast enough. It is driving me nuts," he reportedly wrote to staffers earlier this year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-parent-meta-threatens-to-remove-news-from-platform-if-us-passes-media-bill-540386">Meta threatens to remove news from platform if US passes media bill</a>

They say that the tests had to be repeated, increasing the number of animals being tested and killed, the employees told Reuters.

Animals are usually killed when experiments are completed, as it helps them to examine post-mortem for research purposes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-sues-company-for-forcing-him-to-do-nothing-at-work-yet-paying-him-almost-us250000-annually-540256">Man sues company for forcing him to do 'nothing' at work, yet paying him almost US$126K annually</a>

However, the current and former staff of Neuralink alleged that the number of animal deaths is higher than it needs to be.

This is not the first time that Neuralink has faced allegations of animal abuse.

Earlier this year, an animal-rights group accused the company's researchers of subjecting monkeys to "extreme suffering" while testing brain implants.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Elon Musk’s start-up medical device company, Neuralink, has come under the scanner of the US government over alleged animal-welfare violations, reports Reuters news agency, citing internal documents and sources close to the investigation.

Elon Musk’s start-up medical device company, Neuralink, has come under the scanner of the US government over alleged animal-welfare violations, reports Reuters news agency, citing internal documents and sources close to the investigation. More than 20 current and former staff have told Reuters that its animal testing is being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths. The probe by the US Department of Agriculture recently began its investigation after a request from the federal prosecutor, Reuters said quoting two sources with knowledge of the probe. Neuralink is developing a brain implant that it claims will help paralysed people walk again and cure other neurological ailments. It is being claimed that since 2018, roughly 1,500 animals, including more than 280 sheep, pigs and monkeys, have been killed due to experiments. Reuters, which has quoted sources with direct knowledge of the company’s animal-testing operations, said that the figure was a rough estimate as the company does not keep a record of how many animals were tested and killed. Moreover, the employees claimed that CEO Musk has been pressurising them to accelerate animal testing, resulting in botched experiments. Elon Musk expects Neuralink’s chip to begin human trials in six months "We are simply not moving fast enough. It is driving me nuts," he reportedly wrote to staffers earlier this year. Also read | Meta threatens to remove news from platform if US passes media bill They say that the tests had to be repeated, increasing the number of animals being tested and killed, the employees told Reuters. Animals are usually killed when experiments are completed, as it helps them to examine post-mortem for research purposes. Also read | Man sues company for forcing him to do 'nothing' at work, yet paying him almost US$126K annually However, the current and former staff of Neuralink alleged that the number of animal deaths is higher than it needs to be. This is not the first time that Neuralink has faced allegations of animal abuse. Earlier this year, an animal-rights group accused the company's researchers of subjecting monkeys to "extreme suffering" while testing brain implants. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Elon Musk’s brain chip firm Neuralink under lens over animal abuse claims

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said on Wednesday that a wireless device made by his brain chip company Neuralink will likely begin human trials in six months' time. Neuralink is developing brain chip interfaces which it claims will enable disabled patients to communicate and move. Neuralink has been conducting trials on animals while seeking approval for clinical trials in humans.

"We want to be extremely careful and certain that it will work well before putting a device into a human but we've submitted I think most of our paperwork to the FDA and probably in about six months we should be able to upload Neuralink in a human," Musk said during a much-awaited public update on the device.

This event was originally to happen on October 31 but was postponed by Musk just days prior, without giving a reason.

Neuralink’s last public presentation, more than a year ago, involved a monkey with a brain chip that played a computer game, just by thinking.

Musk is known for lofty goals such as colonising Mars and saving humanity. His ambitions for Neuralink, which he launched in 2016, are of the same grand scale. He wants to develop a chip that would allow the brain to control complex electronic devices and eventually allow people with paralysis to regain motor function and treat brain diseases such as Parkinson’s, dementia and Alzheimer’s. He also talks of melding the brain with artificial intelligence.

Neuralink, however, is running behind schedule. Musk in 2019 had said that he was aiming to receive regulatory approval by 2020 end. Later, he said in 2021 that he aimed to start human trials during the year.&nbsp;

Neuralink has repeatedly missed internal deadlines to gain US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to start human trials, reports said citing current and former employees. Musk approached competitor Synchron earlier this year about a potential investment after he expressed frustration to Neuralink employees about their slow progress, Reuters reported in August.

Synchron crossed a major milestone in July by implanting its device in a patient in the United States for the first time. It received US regulatory clearance for human trials in 2021 and has completed studies in four people in Australia.

(With inputs from agencies)

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said on Wednesday that a wireless device made by his brain chip company Neuralink will likely begin human trials in six months' time.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said on Wednesday that a wireless device made by his brain chip company Neuralink will likely begin human trials in six months' time. Neuralink is developing brain chip interfaces which it claims will enable disabled patients to communicate and move. Neuralink has been conducting trials on animals while seeking approval for clinical trials in humans. "We want to be extremely careful and certain that it will work well before putting a device into a human but we've submitted I think most of our paperwork to the FDA and probably in about six months we should be able to upload Neuralink in a human," Musk said during a much-awaited public update on the device. This event was originally to happen on October 31 but was postponed by Musk just days prior, without giving a reason. Neuralink’s last public presentation, more than a year ago, involved a monkey with a brain chip that played a computer game, just by thinking. Musk is known for lofty goals such as colonising Mars and saving humanity. His ambitions for Neuralink, which he launched in 2016, are of the same grand scale. He wants to develop a chip that would allow the brain to control complex electronic devices and eventually allow people with paralysis to regain motor function and treat brain diseases such as Parkinson’s, dementia and Alzheimer’s. He also talks of melding the brain with artificial intelligence. Neuralink, however, is running behind schedule. Musk in 2019 had said that he was aiming to receive regulatory approval by 2020 end. Later, he said in 2021 that he aimed to start human trials during the year. Neuralink has repeatedly missed internal deadlines to gain US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to start human trials, reports said citing current and former employees. Musk approached competitor Synchron earlier this year about a potential investment after he expressed frustration to Neuralink employees about their slow progress, Reuters reported in August. Synchron crossed a major milestone in July by implanting its device in a patient in the United States for the first time. It received US regulatory clearance for human trials in 2021 and has completed studies in four people in Australia. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk: Neuralink will begin brain chip transplant human trials in six months

Elon Musk said Neuralink is expected to begin human clinical trials in six months. This is a wireless device developed by his brain chip company. The aim is to enable disabled patients to move and communicate again.

Elon Musk expects Neuralink’s chip to begin human trials in six months

Elon Musk said on Wednesday he expects a wireless brain chip developed by his company Neuralink to begin human clinical trials in six months after the company missed earlier timelines set by him.

Elon Musk expects Neuralink to begin human trials in six months

Nine corporate governance experts told news agency Reuters that billionaire Elon Musk's decision to have children with one of his top executives at Neuralink has pushed the limits of corporate governance norms.

The Tesla CEO, who is chief engineer of SpaceX and co-founder of Neuralink, had twin babies with Shivon Zilis last November.

According to five people familiar with the situation, Zilis told some of her colleagues that she was not involved romantically with Musk.

The 36-year-old, who used to report directly to Musk, conceived the children with him through in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

The corporate governance experts said that relationships between supervisors and subordinates are frowned upon at companies and have cost some high-profile CEOs their jobs.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-secretly-welcomed-twins-with-one-of-his-top-executives-reports-495153">Also read |&nbsp;Elon Musk secretly welcomed twins with one of his top executives: Reports</a>

Interestingly, “personal relationships” and “close personal friendships” between employees are prohibited as per Neuralink’s 62-page handbook.

Referring to the Neuralink code of conduct, Nell Minow, vice chair of corporate governance consultancy ValueEdge Advisors, said “Whatever lawyer wrote this language did not contemplate this situation.”

Although the company wants to avoid conflicts of interest due to relationships between employees, the situation appeared to “fall between the cracks”, according to Minow.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-as-shivon-zilis-the-mother-of-elon-musks-twins-495490">Also read |&nbsp;Who is Shivon Zilis, the mother of Elon Musk’s twins?</a>

In order to eliminate any conflict, employees are advised to disclose such interests to the company’s “people operations manager”.

A source familiar with the company’s handling of the matter told Reuters that Zilis' description of a non-romantic relationship has been accepted by Neuralink.

Taking the helm at internal and external company meetings, Musk and Zilis both have also continued working together.

Not only have they listed the same address in Texas, but the court filing published by Insider also shows that they asked for the children to take Musk’s last name.

Zilis having children with Musk through IVF should be read as having a “personal relationship” or “close friendship” under Neuralink’s code of conduct, according to four corporate governance experts. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Nine corporate governance experts told news agency Reuters that billionaire Elon Musk's decision to have children with one of his top executives at Neuralink has pushed the limits of corporate governance norms.

Nine corporate governance experts told news agency Reuters that billionaire Elon Musk's decision to have children with one of his top executives at Neuralink has pushed the limits of corporate governance norms. The Tesla CEO, who is chief engineer of SpaceX and co-founder of Neuralink, had twin babies with Shivon Zilis last November. According to five people familiar with the situation, Zilis told some of her colleagues that she was not involved romantically with Musk. The 36-year-old, who used to report directly to Musk, conceived the children with him through in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The corporate governance experts said that relationships between supervisors and subordinates are frowned upon at companies and have cost some high-profile CEOs their jobs. Also read | Elon Musk secretly welcomed twins with one of his top executives: Reports Interestingly, “personal relationships” and “close personal friendships” between employees are prohibited as per Neuralink’s 62-page handbook. Referring to the Neuralink code of conduct, Nell Minow, vice chair of corporate governance consultancy ValueEdge Advisors, said “Whatever lawyer wrote this language did not contemplate this situation.” Although the company wants to avoid conflicts of interest due to relationships between employees, the situation appeared to “fall between the cracks”, according to Minow. Also read | Who is Shivon Zilis, the mother of Elon Musk’s twins? In order to eliminate any conflict, employees are advised to disclose such interests to the company’s “people operations manager”. A source familiar with the company’s handling of the matter told Reuters that Zilis' description of a non-romantic relationship has been accepted by Neuralink. Taking the helm at internal and external company meetings, Musk and Zilis both have also continued working together. Not only have they listed the same address in Texas, but the court filing published by Insider also shows that they asked for the children to take Musk’s last name. Zilis having children with Musk through IVF should be read as having a “personal relationship” or “close friendship” under Neuralink’s code of conduct, according to four corporate governance experts. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Limits of corporate governance norms being tested by Musk's decision of having children with aide

Tech visionary turned social media king Elon Musk's A-list enterprises and how much they are worth

15 out of 23 monkeys have died in Neuralink's trial to link the human brain to a computer. The firm, that belongs to Tesla chief Elon Musk is conceiving implants to be able to communicate with machines by thought.&nbsp;

The San Francisco-based company aims to implant wireless brain-computer chips to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and spinal cord injuries and fuse humankind with artificial intelligence.

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Neuralink works by recording and decoding electrical signals from the brain using more than 2,000 electrodes implanted in regions of the monkey’s motor cortex that coordinate hand and arm movements.

Musk has a history of bringing together diverse experts to develop technology previously limited to academic labs through companies such as Tesla Inc, SpaceX and Boring Co.

He has become an outspoken doomsayer about the threat artificial intelligence might one day pose to the human race. Continued growth in AI cognitive capabilities, he and like-minded critics suggest, could lead to machines that can outthink and outmaneuver humans with whom they might have little in common.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musks-neuralink-to-start-clinical-trials-of-implanting-brain-chips-in-humans-446942">Also read |&nbsp;Elon Musk's Neuralink to start clinical trials of implanting brain chips in humans</a>

Hooking a brain up directly to electronics is not new. Doctors implant electrodes in brains to deliver stimulation for treating such conditions as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and chronic pain. In experiments, implanted sensors have let paralyzed people use brain signals to operate computers and move robotic arms

But Musk’s proposal goes beyond this. Neuralink wants to build on those existing medical treatments as well as one day work on surgeries that could improve cognitive functioning.

Neuralink is not the only company working on artificial intelligence for the brain.&nbsp;

Entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, who sold his previous payments startup Braintree to PayPal for $800 million, started Kernel, a company working on “advanced neural interfaces” to treat disease and extend cognition, in 2016.

(With inputs from agencies)

15 out of 23 monkeys have died in Neuralink's trial to link the human brain to a computer. The firm, that belongs to Tesla chief Elon Musk is conceiving implants to be able to communicate with machines by thought.

15 out of 23 monkeys have died in Neuralink's trial to link the human brain to a computer. The firm, that belongs to Tesla chief Elon Musk is conceiving implants to be able to communicate with machines by thought. The San Francisco-based company aims to implant wireless brain-computer chips to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and spinal cord injuries and fuse humankind with artificial intelligence. Neuralink works by recording and decoding electrical signals from the brain using more than 2,000 electrodes implanted in regions of the monkey’s motor cortex that coordinate hand and arm movements. Musk has a history of bringing together diverse experts to develop technology previously limited to academic labs through companies such as Tesla Inc, SpaceX and Boring Co. He has become an outspoken doomsayer about the threat artificial intelligence might one day pose to the human race. Continued growth in AI cognitive capabilities, he and like-minded critics suggest, could lead to machines that can outthink and outmaneuver humans with whom they might have little in common. Also read | Elon Musk's Neuralink to start clinical trials of implanting brain chips in humans Hooking a brain up directly to electronics is not new. Doctors implant electrodes in brains to deliver stimulation for treating such conditions as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and chronic pain. In experiments, implanted sensors have let paralyzed people use brain signals to operate computers and move robotic arms But Musk’s proposal goes beyond this. Neuralink wants to build on those existing medical treatments as well as one day work on surgeries that could improve cognitive functioning. Neuralink is not the only company working on artificial intelligence for the brain. Entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, who sold his previous payments startup Braintree to PayPal for $800 million, started Kernel, a company working on “advanced neural interfaces” to treat disease and extend cognition, in 2016. (With inputs from agencies)

15 out of 23 monkeys die in Neuralink's trial to link human brain to computer

Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Thursday revealed the details of what the upcoming line-up of the company is going to look like in 2022.

"I would be shocked if we do not achieve full self-driving safer than human this year," Musk said, predicting full self-driving would become "the most important source of profitability for Tesla."

"It's nutty good from a financial standpoint," he said, saying robotaxis would boost the utility of a vehicle by five times, as owners can send their cars out to work when not needed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/analysts-predict-next-12-months-could-be-most-lucrative-for-tesla-ceo-elon-musk-447913" hreflang="en">Analysts predict next 12 months could be most lucrative for Tesla CEO Elon Musk</a>

The South African billionaire is not content with electric cars, shooting people into orbit, populating Mars, and building underground tunnels to solve traffic problems. He also wants to get inside your brain.

His startup, Neuralink, is working on the implantation of computer chips inside the human brain. It aims to develop implants that can treat neural disorders, and that may one day be powerful enough to put humanity on a more even footing with possible future superintelligent computers.

Neuralink is not the only company working on artificial intelligence for the brain. Entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, who sold his previous payments startup Braintree to PayPal for $800 million, started Kernel, a company working on “advanced neural interfaces” to treat disease and extend cognition.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musks-neuralink-to-start-clinical-trials-of-implanting-brain-chips-in-humans-446942" hreflang="en">Elon Musk's Neuralink to start clinical trials of implanting brain chips in humans</a>

Musk also said that the Starship rocket developed by his company SpaceX and selected by NASA for the Americans' return to the Moon would attempt its first orbital flight this month.

Musk has built a career on defying skeptics with working businesses in electric cars and rockets.&nbsp;

Some Tesla drivers buy $12,000 self-driving packages in the expectation that full autonomy is around the corner, and 60,000 Tesla drivers are testing the latest self-driving software, a scale that other autonomous vehicle software companies can only dream of.

Critics believe Musk's promises are far-fetched and will face major challenges, from technology to regulation.

"I love the fact that they're pushing the envelope, but I think they are too aggressive," said Roth Capital Partners analyst Craig Irwin.

Philip Koopman, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who has been working on autonomous vehicle safety, said a big problem is that at scale, unusual cases constantly can crop up.

"Without a human driver to handle safety for novel situations the machine learning hasn't been taught already, it's very difficult to ensure safety in a completely automated vehicle," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Thursday revealed the details of what the upcoming line-up of the company is going to look like in 2022. "I would be shocked if we do not achieve full self-driving safer than human this year," Musk said, predicting full self-driving would become "the most important source of profitability for Tesla.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Thursday revealed the details of what the upcoming line-up of the company is going to look like in 2022. "I would be shocked if we do not achieve full self-driving safer than human this year," Musk said, predicting full self-driving would become "the most important source of profitability for Tesla." "It's nutty good from a financial standpoint," he said, saying robotaxis would boost the utility of a vehicle by five times, as owners can send their cars out to work when not needed. Also read | Analysts predict next 12 months could be most lucrative for Tesla CEO Elon Musk The South African billionaire is not content with electric cars, shooting people into orbit, populating Mars, and building underground tunnels to solve traffic problems. He also wants to get inside your brain. His startup, Neuralink, is working on the implantation of computer chips inside the human brain. It aims to develop implants that can treat neural disorders, and that may one day be powerful enough to put humanity on a more even footing with possible future superintelligent computers. Neuralink is not the only company working on artificial intelligence for the brain. Entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, who sold his previous payments startup Braintree to PayPal for $800 million, started Kernel, a company working on “advanced neural interfaces” to treat disease and extend cognition. Also read | Elon Musk's Neuralink to start clinical trials of implanting brain chips in humans Musk also said that the Starship rocket developed by his company SpaceX and selected by NASA for the Americans' return to the Moon would attempt its first orbital flight this month. Musk has built a career on defying skeptics with working businesses in electric cars and rockets. Some Tesla drivers buy $12,000 self-driving packages in the expectation that full autonomy is around the corner, and 60,000 Tesla drivers are testing the latest self-driving software, a scale that other autonomous vehicle software companies can only dream of. Critics believe Musk's promises are far-fetched and will face major challenges, from technology to regulation. "I love the fact that they're pushing the envelope, but I think they are too aggressive," said Roth Capital Partners analyst Craig Irwin. Philip Koopman, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who has been working on autonomous vehicle safety, said a big problem is that at scale, unusual cases constantly can crop up. "Without a human driver to handle safety for novel situations the machine learning hasn't been taught already, it's very difficult to ensure safety in a completely automated vehicle," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

From humanoid robot to software that drives vehicles autonomously: Here's what Elon Musk is betting on in 2022

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