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

Billionaire Elon Musk's company Neuralink is conceiving implants to be able to communicate with machines by thought.&nbsp;

Neuralink’s first clinical trials with a small number of human patients would be aimed at treating paralysis or paraplegia, the company’s head surgeon Dr. Matthew MacDougall said.

The neurotechnology firm aims to develop implants that can treat neural disorders&nbsp;and that may one day be powerful enough to put humanity on a more even footing with possible future superintelligent computers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/synthetic-wombs-elon-musk-other-tech-entrepreneurs-discuss-population-collapse-solutions-446496">Also read |&nbsp;Synthetic wombs? Elon Musk, other tech entrepreneurs discuss population collapse, solutions</a>

Musk described Neuralink’s chip, which is roughly 23 millimeters (0.9 inch) in diameter, as “a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires.”

Neuralink wants to first use the device with people who have severe spinal cord injury to help them talk, type and move using their brain waves.

The brain-chip startup had released footage on Friday appearing to show a monkey playing a simple videogame after getting implants of the new technology.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-to-pay-tax-bill-worth-11-billion-from-money-collected-by-selling-tesla-shares-441997">Also read |&nbsp;Elon Musk to pay tax bill worth $11 billion from money collected by selling Tesla shares</a>

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, the video’s voiceover said.

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.

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)

Billionaire Elon Musk's company Neuralink is conceiving implants to be able to communicate with machines by thought. Neuralink’s first clinical trials with a small number of human patients would be aimed at treating paralysis or paraplegia, the company’s head surgeon Dr.

Billionaire Elon Musk's company Neuralink is conceiving implants to be able to communicate with machines by thought. Neuralink’s first clinical trials with a small number of human patients would be aimed at treating paralysis or paraplegia, the company’s head surgeon Dr. Matthew MacDougall said. The neurotechnology firm 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. Also read | Synthetic wombs? Elon Musk, other tech entrepreneurs discuss population collapse, solutions Musk described Neuralink’s chip, which is roughly 23 millimeters (0.9 inch) in diameter, as “a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires.” Neuralink wants to first use the device with people who have severe spinal cord injury to help them talk, type and move using their brain waves. The brain-chip startup had released footage on Friday appearing to show a monkey playing a simple videogame after getting implants of the new technology. Also read | Elon Musk to pay tax bill worth $11 billion from money collected by selling Tesla shares 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, the video’s voiceover said. 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. 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)

Elon Musk's Neuralink to start clinical trials of implanting brain chips in humans

Social media erupted after Tesla CEO said he thinking of quitting his jobs and becoming a full-time influencer.

When the billionaire, who is also the founder of SpaceX, asked Twitter users what do they think about the move, they had some interesting suggestions.

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thinking of quitting my jobs &amp; becoming an influencer full-time wdyt
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1469153995428085762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-of-his-word-musk-again-fulfils-promise-owns-no-home-in-us-state-now-434970">Also read |&nbsp;Man of his word? Musk again fulfils promise, ‘owns no home’ in US state now</a>

One netizen told him ''I’ll be your first subscriber if you make an onlyfans.''

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I’ll be your first subscriber if you make an onlyfans
— Albi (SideArms) (@Albi_SideArms) <a href="https://twitter.com/Albi_SideArms/status/1469161000142262280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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In response, Musk, a prolific user of the social media platform,&nbsp;said ''maybe i will.''

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maybe i will …
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1469205428227784711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Another Twitter user recommended he become a YouTuber and start his own channel.

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Start a YouTube channel
— Toby Li (@tobyliiiiiiiiii) <a href="https://twitter.com/tobyliiiiiiiiii/status/1469154349125234689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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To which Musk replied ''noobtoob.'' It refers to a person who is inexperienced in a particular sphere or activity, especially computing or the use of the internet.

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noobtoob
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1469154683113676802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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I’ll coach u on how to get YouTube views!
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBeast/status/1469158006445256715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Earlier, Musk had said "It would be nice to have a bit more free time on my hands as opposed to just working day and night, from when I wake up to when I go to sleep 7 days a week. Pretty intense."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musk-loses-record-50-billion-in-2-days-as-tesla-shares-fall-428184">Also read |&nbsp;Elon Musk loses record $50 billion in 2 days as Tesla shares fall</a>

It comes after Musk had tweeted and asked Twitter users if should sell his shares in Tesla worth $12 billion in a poll. He had followed through his commitment and sold his shares thrice in November.

However, several critics had pointed out that he had done so to evade taxes under a bill introduced by US President Joe Biden.

Musk also leads brain-chip startup Neuralink and infrastructure firm The Boring Company.

(With inputs from agencies)

Social media erupted after Tesla CEO said he thinking of quitting his jobs and becoming a full-time influencer. When the billionaire, who is also the founder of SpaceX, asked Twitter users what do they think about the move, they had some interesting suggestions.

Social media erupted after Tesla CEO said he thinking of quitting his jobs and becoming a full-time influencer. When the billionaire, who is also the founder of SpaceX, asked Twitter users what do they think about the move, they had some interesting suggestions. thinking of quitting my jobs & becoming an influencer full-time wdyt — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2021 × Also read | Man of his word? Musk again fulfils promise, ‘owns no home’ in US state now One netizen told him ''I’ll be your first subscriber if you make an onlyfans.'' I’ll be your first subscriber if you make an onlyfans — Albi (SideArms) (@Albi_SideArms) December 10, 2021 × In response, Musk, a prolific user of the social media platform, said ''maybe i will.'' maybe i will … — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2021 × Another Twitter user recommended he become a YouTuber and start his own channel. Start a YouTube channel — Toby Li (@tobyliiiiiiiiii) December 10, 2021 × To which Musk replied ''noobtoob.'' It refers to a person who is inexperienced in a particular sphere or activity, especially computing or the use of the internet. noobtoob — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2021 × I’ll coach u on how to get YouTube views! — MrBeast (@MrBeast) December 10, 2021 × Earlier, Musk had said "It would be nice to have a bit more free time on my hands as opposed to just working day and night, from when I wake up to when I go to sleep 7 days a week. Pretty intense." Also read | Elon Musk loses record $50 billion in 2 days as Tesla shares fall It comes after Musk had tweeted and asked Twitter users if should sell his shares in Tesla worth $12 billion in a poll. He had followed through his commitment and sold his shares thrice in November. However, several critics had pointed out that he had done so to evade taxes under a bill introduced by US President Joe Biden. Musk also leads brain-chip startup Neuralink and infrastructure firm The Boring Company. (With inputs from agencies)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is thinking of quitting his jobs and becoming an influencer

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon&nbsp;Musk's brain-chip startup, Neuralink,&nbsp;has raised $205 million in funding&nbsp;from Alphabet Inc's Google Ventures.

Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer chips to help cure neurological conditions including Alzheimer's, dementia, and spinal cord injuries and fuse humankind with artificial intelligence.

The company released a video in April showing a male macaque playing a videogame "Mind Pong" after getting chips embedded on each side of its brain.

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First <a href="https://twitter.com/neuralink?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Neuralink</a> product will enable someone with paralysis to use a smartphone with their mind faster than someone using thumbs
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1380315654524301315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Valor Equity Partners, Craft Ventures and Founders Fund also participated in the series C funding round.&nbsp;

Co-founded by&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;in 2016, San Francisco-based Neuralink will use the funds to take its first product, N1 Link, to the market, and for research and development.

Musk&nbsp;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.

SpaceX, a private space company, said in an amended regulatory filing in April, it had raised about $1.16 billion in equity financing.

(With inputs from agencies)

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's brain-chip startup, Neuralink, has raised $205 million in funding from Alphabet Inc's Google Ventures. Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer chips to help cure neurological conditions including Alzheimer's, dementia, and spinal cord injuries and fuse humankind with artificial intelligence.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's brain-chip startup, Neuralink, has raised $205 million in funding from Alphabet Inc's Google Ventures. Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer chips to help cure neurological conditions including Alzheimer's, dementia, and spinal cord injuries and fuse humankind with artificial intelligence. The company released a video in April showing a male macaque playing a videogame "Mind Pong" after getting chips embedded on each side of its brain. First @Neuralink product will enable someone with paralysis to use a smartphone with their mind faster than someone using thumbs — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2021 × Valor Equity Partners, Craft Ventures and Founders Fund also participated in the series C funding round. Co-founded by Musk in 2016, San Francisco-based Neuralink will use the funds to take its first product, N1 Link, to the market, and for research and development. 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. SpaceX, a private space company, said in an amended regulatory filing in April, it had raised about $1.16 billion in equity financing. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk's brain-chip startup, Neuralink raises over $200 million

Billionaire entrepreneur&nbsp;Elon&nbsp;Musk's neuroscience startup Neuralink released footage on Friday&nbsp;that it says shows a macaque monkey playing video games using a brain-computer interface implant.

The three-minute video released by the San Francisco-based company shows a male monkey called Pager with Neuralink chips implanted on each side of its brain, using a joystick to follow a cursor on a screen.

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Monkey MindPong <a href="https://t.co/7zstTZ1X1w">https://t.co/7zstTZ1X1w</a> <a href="https://t.co/GYrYNsJ68u">pic.twitter.com/GYrYNsJ68u</a>
— Neuralink (@neuralink) <a href="https://twitter.com/neuralink/status/1380303902139031553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The voice-over explains that Neuralink records from more than 2000 electrodes implanted in the regions of the monkey's motor cortex that coordinate hand and arm movements.

"Using these data, we calibrate the decoder by mathematically modelling the relationship between patterns of neural activity and the different joystick movements they produce. After only a few minutes of calibration, we can use the output from the decoder to move the cursor instead of the joystick," the voice-over says.

The monkey still moves the joystick out of habit, but the scientists have unplugged it; Pager is controlling the cursor entirely with decoded neural activity.

The video goes on to show Pager playing 'Mind Pong'; controlling his paddle simply by thinking about moving his hand up or down.

The voice-over adds: "He's focussed and he's playing entirely of his own volition. It's not magic. The reason Neuralink works is because it's recording and decoding electrical signals from the brain."

Co-founded by&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;in 2016, Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer interfaces that include thousands of electrodes in the most complex human organ to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and spinal cord injuries and ultimately fuse humankind with artificial intelligence.

In August 2020,&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;unveiled a pig with a Neuralink chip installed, at the time describing it as "a Fitbit in your skull".

Musk&nbsp;has a history of bringing together diverse experts to drastically accelerate the development of innovations previously limited to academic labs, including rocket, hyperloop and electrical vehicle technologies through companies such as Tesla Inc and SpaceX.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's neuroscience startup Neuralink released footage on Friday that it says shows a macaque monkey playing video games using a brain-computer interface implant.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's neuroscience startup Neuralink released footage on Friday that it says shows a macaque monkey playing video games using a brain-computer interface implant. The three-minute video released by the San Francisco-based company shows a male monkey called Pager with Neuralink chips implanted on each side of its brain, using a joystick to follow a cursor on a screen. Monkey MindPong https://t.co/7zstTZ1X1w pic.twitter.com/GYrYNsJ68u — Neuralink (@neuralink) April 8, 2021 × The voice-over explains that Neuralink records from more than 2000 electrodes implanted in the regions of the monkey's motor cortex that coordinate hand and arm movements. "Using these data, we calibrate the decoder by mathematically modelling the relationship between patterns of neural activity and the different joystick movements they produce. After only a few minutes of calibration, we can use the output from the decoder to move the cursor instead of the joystick," the voice-over says. The monkey still moves the joystick out of habit, but the scientists have unplugged it; Pager is controlling the cursor entirely with decoded neural activity. The video goes on to show Pager playing 'Mind Pong'; controlling his paddle simply by thinking about moving his hand up or down. The voice-over adds: "He's focussed and he's playing entirely of his own volition. It's not magic. The reason Neuralink works is because it's recording and decoding electrical signals from the brain." Co-founded by Musk in 2016, Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer interfaces that include thousands of electrodes in the most complex human organ to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and spinal cord injuries and ultimately fuse humankind with artificial intelligence. In August 2020, Musk unveiled a pig with a Neuralink chip installed, at the time describing it as "a Fitbit in your skull". Musk has a history of bringing together diverse experts to drastically accelerate the development of innovations previously limited to academic labs, including rocket, hyperloop and electrical vehicle technologies through companies such as Tesla Inc and SpaceX.

Elon Musk's neuroscience startup Neuralink shows monkey playing video games via brain chip

SpaceX owner Elon Musk has once again hit the news with a unique revelation. In an interaction, Musk claimed one of his startups has got a monkey playing video games.

Musk has claimed employees of one of his startups have got wires going into the brain of a monkey which is allowing him to play video games.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-calls-himself-bitcoin-supporter-prices-soar-360630">Tesla CEO Elon Musk calls himself Bitcoin 'supporter'; prices soar</a>

"He's a happy monkey," Tesla owner, Musk said in an informal conversation with users of one of his apps.

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On Clubhouse tonight at 10pm LA time
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1355983231988862978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
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This was revealed during his chat on Clubhouse, which is a private social app developed to host informal conversations.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-spacex-violated-launch-license-in-starship-rocket-reports-360305">Elon Musk's SpaceX violated launch license in Starship rocket: Reports</a>

"We have a monkey with a wireless implant in their skull with tiny wires who can play video games with his mind," he said. "You can't see where the implant is and he's a happy monkey. We have the nicest monkey facilities in the world. We want them to play mind-Pong with each other."

The topic started when he was asked about the developments at Neuralink, which started in 2017. Talking about the same, he explained that the basic "idea with neural link is addressing brain and spinal injuries".

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Please consider working at Neuralink! 
 
Short-term: solve brain/spine injuries 
Long-term: human/AI symbiosis 
 
Latter will be species-level important 
 
Work at either at our Bay Area or Austin locations <a href="https://t.co/LPzDrWO8h3">https://t.co/LPzDrWO8h3</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1356027336387252235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Explaining it further, he said this will however not have wires coming out but will "there are primitive versions of this device with wires sticking out of your head, but it's like a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires that go into your brain."

Later, he also tweeted "Please consider working at Neuralink!"

The whole conversation took place at the Clubhouse app which has gained nearly two million users in the last 10 days.

SpaceX owner Elon Musk has once again hit the news with a unique revelation. In an interaction, Musk claimed one of his startups has got a monkey playing video games.

SpaceX owner Elon Musk has once again hit the news with a unique revelation. In an interaction, Musk claimed one of his startups has got a monkey playing video games. Musk has claimed employees of one of his startups have got wires going into the brain of a monkey which is allowing him to play video games. Also read| Tesla CEO Elon Musk calls himself Bitcoin 'supporter'; prices soar "He's a happy monkey," Tesla owner, Musk said in an informal conversation with users of one of his apps. On Clubhouse tonight at 10pm LA time — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 31, 2021 × This was revealed during his chat on Clubhouse, which is a private social app developed to host informal conversations. Also read| Elon Musk's SpaceX violated launch license in Starship rocket: Reports "We have a monkey with a wireless implant in their skull with tiny wires who can play video games with his mind," he said. "You can't see where the implant is and he's a happy monkey. We have the nicest monkey facilities in the world. We want them to play mind-Pong with each other." The topic started when he was asked about the developments at Neuralink, which started in 2017. Talking about the same, he explained that the basic "idea with neural link is addressing brain and spinal injuries". Please consider working at Neuralink! Short-term: solve brain/spine injuries Long-term: human/AI symbiosis Latter will be species-level important Work at either at our Bay Area or Austin locations https://t.co/LPzDrWO8h3 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 31, 2021 × Explaining it further, he said this will however not have wires coming out but will "there are primitive versions of this device with wires sticking out of your head, but it's like a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires that go into your brain." Later, he also tweeted "Please consider working at Neuralink!" The whole conversation took place at the Clubhouse app which has gained nearly two million users in the last 10 days.

Elon Musk reveals he has 'happy monkey' with wires in its brains

Tech billionaire Elon Musk's brain-machine interface company Neuralink showcased a working device on Friday, shedding new light into the progress of the secretive company.

Co-founded by Tesla Inc and SpaceX CEO&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;in 2016, San Francisco Bay Area-based Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer interfaces that include thousands of electrodes in the most complex human organ to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and spinal cord injuries and ultimately fuse humankind with artificial intelligence.

While the touted benefits of the company's brain-machine interface range from providing anxiety relief to helping paralysed people control devices, the more immediate goal of the company appears to be allowing people to control their phones and computers with chips that can be implanted on brain.

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In picture: V2 of the Neuralink brain-machine interface surgery bot 

"An implantable device can actually solve these problems,"&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;said on a webcast Friday, mentioning ailments such as memory loss, hearing loss, depression and insomnia.

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In picture: Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;is seen on a screen during a video message&nbsp; 
 
"Live webcast of working @Neuralink device," Musk said in tweet, adding that it will take place on Friday.

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Live webcast of working <a href="https://twitter.com/neuralink?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Neuralink</a> device 
Friday 3pm Pacific <a href="https://t.co/PouLbrGzFU">https://t.co/PouLbrGzFU</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1298494373278220290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Musk&nbsp;did not provide a timeline for those treatments, appearing to retreat from earlier statements that human trials would begin by the end of this year. Neuralink's first clinical trials with a small number of human patients would be aimed at treating paralysis or paraplegia, the company's head surgeon Dr. Matthew MacDougall said.

Neuroscientists unaffiliated with the company said the presentation indicated that Neuralink had made great strides but cautioned that longer studies were needed.

Musk&nbsp;presented what he described as the "three little pigs demo." Gertrude, the pig with a Neuralink implant in the part of its brain that controls the snout, required some coaxing by&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;to appear on camera, but eventually began eating off of a stool and sniffing straw, triggering spikes on a graph tracking the animal's neural activity.

Musk&nbsp;said the company had three pigs with two implants each, and also revealed a pig that previously had an implant. They were "healthy, happy and indistinguishable from a normal pig,"&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;said.&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;said the company predicted a pig's limb movement during a treadmill run at "high accuracy" using implant data.

Musk is soon expected to announce human trials for the technology that has been successful on mice and even apes. 
 
"Will show neurons firing in real-time on August 28th. The matrix in the matrix," Musk tweeted last month. 
 
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also claimed that a new Neuralink chip will allow users to hear sounds that previously were impossible to human ears. 
 
He confirmed the new feature last month over an exchange with a Twitter user who asked: "If we implement Neuralink - can we listen to music directly from our chips? Great feature." Musk replied with a simple, "yes". 
 
Musk founded Neuralink in 2016 but has only held one major public presentation so far.

The Silicon Valley entrepreneur's&nbsp;&nbsp;net worth topped $100 billion on Friday, according to the Forbes real-time billionaires list, as the shares of electric-car maker Tesla Inc see a more than five-fold surge in value this year.

Tesla Inc's factory in Nevada was a target of a "serious" cybersecurity attack according to&nbsp;a media report that claimed an employee of the company helped the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) thwart the attack.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk's brain-machine interface company Neuralink showcased a working device on Friday, shedding new light into the progress of the secretive company.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk's brain-machine interface company Neuralink showcased a working device on Friday, shedding new light into the progress of the secretive company. Co-founded by Tesla Inc and SpaceX CEO Musk in 2016, San Francisco Bay Area-based Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer interfaces that include thousands of electrodes in the most complex human organ to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and spinal cord injuries and ultimately fuse humankind with artificial intelligence. While the touted benefits of the company's brain-machine interface range from providing anxiety relief to helping paralysed people control devices, the more immediate goal of the company appears to be allowing people to control their phones and computers with chips that can be implanted on brain. In picture: V2 of the Neuralink brain-machine interface surgery bot "An implantable device can actually solve these problems," Musk said on a webcast Friday, mentioning ailments such as memory loss, hearing loss, depression and insomnia. In picture: Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk is seen on a screen during a video message "Live webcast of working @Neuralink device," Musk said in tweet, adding that it will take place on Friday. Live webcast of working @Neuralink device Friday 3pm Pacific https://t.co/PouLbrGzFU — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 26, 2020 × Musk did not provide a timeline for those treatments, appearing to retreat from earlier statements that human trials would begin by the end of this year. Neuralink's first clinical trials with a small number of human patients would be aimed at treating paralysis or paraplegia, the company's head surgeon Dr. Matthew MacDougall said. Neuroscientists unaffiliated with the company said the presentation indicated that Neuralink had made great strides but cautioned that longer studies were needed. Musk presented what he described as the "three little pigs demo." Gertrude, the pig with a Neuralink implant in the part of its brain that controls the snout, required some coaxing by Musk to appear on camera, but eventually began eating off of a stool and sniffing straw, triggering spikes on a graph tracking the animal's neural activity. Musk said the company had three pigs with two implants each, and also revealed a pig that previously had an implant. They were "healthy, happy and indistinguishable from a normal pig," Musk said. Musk said the company predicted a pig's limb movement during a treadmill run at "high accuracy" using implant data. Musk is soon expected to announce human trials for the technology that has been successful on mice and even apes. "Will show neurons firing in real-time on August 28th. The matrix in the matrix," Musk tweeted last month. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also claimed that a new Neuralink chip will allow users to hear sounds that previously were impossible to human ears. He confirmed the new feature last month over an exchange with a Twitter user who asked: "If we implement Neuralink - can we listen to music directly from our chips? Great feature." Musk replied with a simple, "yes". Musk founded Neuralink in 2016 but has only held one major public presentation so far. The Silicon Valley entrepreneur's net worth topped $100 billion on Friday, according to the Forbes real-time billionaires list, as the shares of electric-car maker Tesla Inc see a more than five-fold surge in value this year. Tesla Inc's factory in Nevada was a target of a "serious" cybersecurity attack according to a media report that claimed an employee of the company helped the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) thwart the attack.

'Three little pigs': Elon Musk unveils Neuralink brain computer implants

Elon Musk’s startup intended to map and control the brain, “Neuralink” will reportedly allow you to stream music into your brain directly.

The startup and its vision will be shared with the world on August 28. In response to the computer scientist Austin Howard’s question about being able to stream music directly into your brain on Sunday - July 19, Musk responded with a coy “yes”. If there were to be true, headphones could become a thing of the past very soon.

"Yes"

Very little has been revealed about the startup. The only glimpse so far was in 2019 during a keynote, whereby the company showcased a device which was connected to the brain using holes in the skull, which were drilled by lasers.

This has little to do with pleasure, but more with scientific betterment. If the brain can be accessed and remotely controlled, diseases that render one inept like Parkinson’s might finally be controllable.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/technology/very-close-to-level-5-autonomous-driving-technology-tesla-chief-elon-musk-311978" hreflang="en">'Very close' to level 5 autonomous driving technology: Tesla chief Elon Musk</a>

Speaking on a podcast, Musk asserted how this tech could help repair broken neural connections in people suffering extreme brain disorders.

The brain-mapping technology’s plans to beam music into one’s brain have not been revealed yet. No detail on how this will be achieved without bypassing the ear and other body restraints in the way.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/on-a-quest-for-simpler-life-elon-musk-begins-selling-his-private-property-307778" hreflang="en">On a quest for 'simpler life', Elon Musk begins selling his private property</a>

Chemicals? You bet!

But this isn’t it! Musk also claims that the technology could release chemicals into the brain which affect one’s functioning. Brain chemicals decide one’s ability to feel sad and happy. In a case of imbalance, one tilts to one extreme.

He also invited problem solvers to apply to work at the company. “If you’ve solved hard problems with phones/ wearables (sealing, signal processing, inductive charging, power management, etc.), please consider working at [Neuralink],” the mogul tweeted out.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/science/elon-musk-says-tesla-is-building-rna-microfactories-for-curevac-310183" hreflang="en">Elon Musk says Tesla is building 'RNA microfactories' for CureVac</a>

While responding to a tweet about whether the devices could “stimulate the release oxytocin, serotonin, and other chemicals when needed”, without giving any details, the tech guru responded with another “yes”.

The technology to send music straight to one’s brain already exists, but its functioning is different. It does this by sending vibrations to the skull. On the other hand, Neuralink intends to do this by stimulating neurones.

He also invited problem solvers to apply to work at the company. “If you’ve solved hard problems with phones/ wearables (sealing, signal processing, inductive charging, power management, etc.), please consider working at [Neuralink],” the mogul tweeted out.

Elon Musk’s startup intended to map and control the brain, “Neuralink” will reportedly allow you to stream music into your brain directly. The startup and its vision will be shared with the world on August 28.

Elon Musk’s startup intended to map and control the brain, “Neuralink” will reportedly allow you to stream music into your brain directly. The startup and its vision will be shared with the world on August 28. In response to the computer scientist Austin Howard’s question about being able to stream music directly into your brain on Sunday - July 19, Musk responded with a coy “yes”. If there were to be true, headphones could become a thing of the past very soon. "Yes" Very little has been revealed about the startup. The only glimpse so far was in 2019 during a keynote, whereby the company showcased a device which was connected to the brain using holes in the skull, which were drilled by lasers. This has little to do with pleasure, but more with scientific betterment. If the brain can be accessed and remotely controlled, diseases that render one inept like Parkinson’s might finally be controllable. Also read: 'Very close' to level 5 autonomous driving technology: Tesla chief Elon Musk Speaking on a podcast, Musk asserted how this tech could help repair broken neural connections in people suffering extreme brain disorders. The brain-mapping technology’s plans to beam music into one’s brain have not been revealed yet. No detail on how this will be achieved without bypassing the ear and other body restraints in the way. Also read: On a quest for 'simpler life', Elon Musk begins selling his private property Chemicals? You bet! But this isn’t it! Musk also claims that the technology could release chemicals into the brain which affect one’s functioning. Brain chemicals decide one’s ability to feel sad and happy. In a case of imbalance, one tilts to one extreme. He also invited problem solvers to apply to work at the company. “If you’ve solved hard problems with phones/ wearables (sealing, signal processing, inductive charging, power management, etc.), please consider working at [Neuralink],” the mogul tweeted out. Also read: Elon Musk says Tesla is building 'RNA microfactories' for CureVac While responding to a tweet about whether the devices could “stimulate the release oxytocin, serotonin, and other chemicals when needed”, without giving any details, the tech guru responded with another “yes”. The technology to send music straight to one’s brain already exists, but its functioning is different. It does this by sending vibrations to the skull. On the other hand, Neuralink intends to do this by stimulating neurones. He also invited problem solvers to apply to work at the company. “If you’ve solved hard problems with phones/ wearables (sealing, signal processing, inductive charging, power management, etc.), please consider working at [Neuralink],” the mogul tweeted out.

Elon Musk's upcoming 'Neuralink' will let you beam music directly into the brain

Elon Musk has said that he is working on a technology that could make the human language obsolete.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-to-defy-alameda-county-orders-to-restart-production-298123">Tesla CEO Elon Musk to defy Alameda County orders to restart production</a>

In a podcast, the Tesla chief was discussing his neurotechnology firm Neuralink, where he said that his company will soon be able to connect a Neuralink device to a brain within a few years. If this happens, it will be for the very first time.&nbsp;

According to Musk, a battery-powered chip will be implanted in the human skull and the electrodes will then "carefully" insert into the brain.&nbsp;

He said: "It can interface with anywhere in your brain, so it could be something that helps cure eyesight. In principle, it can fix almost anything that’s wrong with the brain."

He said the first edition of these devices will focus on treating brain injury or disorders, however, the later versions might be capable of more.&nbsp;

"You wouldn’t need to talk," Musk said, adding: "We could still do it for sentimental reasons."

He went on: "You would be able to communicate very quickly and with far more precision … I’m not sure what would happen to language. In a situation like this, it would kind of be like The Matrix. You wanna speak in a different language? No problem, just download the program."

When asked about the duration of such a device, he said between 5 to 10 years only if the research is allowed to continue.&nbsp;

Elon Musk has said that he is working on a technology that could make the human language obsolete. Also read: Tesla CEO Elon Musk to defy Alameda County orders to restart production In a podcast, the Tesla chief was discussing his neurotechnology firm Neuralink, where he said that his company will soon be able to connect a Neuralink device to a brain within a few years.

Elon Musk has said that he is working on a technology that could make the human language obsolete. Also read: Tesla CEO Elon Musk to defy Alameda County orders to restart production In a podcast, the Tesla chief was discussing his neurotechnology firm Neuralink, where he said that his company will soon be able to connect a Neuralink device to a brain within a few years. If this happens, it will be for the very first time. According to Musk, a battery-powered chip will be implanted in the human skull and the electrodes will then "carefully" insert into the brain. He said: "It can interface with anywhere in your brain, so it could be something that helps cure eyesight. In principle, it can fix almost anything that’s wrong with the brain." He said the first edition of these devices will focus on treating brain injury or disorders, however, the later versions might be capable of more. "You wouldn’t need to talk," Musk said, adding: "We could still do it for sentimental reasons." He went on: "You would be able to communicate very quickly and with far more precision … I’m not sure what would happen to language. In a situation like this, it would kind of be like The Matrix. You wanna speak in a different language? No problem, just download the program." When asked about the duration of such a device, he said between 5 to 10 years only if the research is allowed to continue.

Neuralink devices could make human language obsolete in five years: Elon Musk

Elon Musk is aiming to connect the human brain with a machine interface. And through his start-up Neuralink, Musk aism to accomplish this "before the end of next year".

Speaking at a conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, Musk presented "version one" of his neuron-sized threads and micro processor chips that he claims will help people with severe brain injuries and eventually grow to allow humans to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-machine-meshed-superhumans-remain-stuff-of-fantasy-say-experts-237062">connect with advancing artificial intelligence</a> (AI) technology.

"This, I think, has a very good purpose which is to cure important diseases and ultimately to help secure humanity's future as a civilization relative to A.I. The threads are very tiny and there's a lot of them and they're very carefully placed, and the operation on a per chip basis involves just a two millimetre incision, which is dilated to eight millimetres and then the chip is placed through that. It goes back to being two millimetres and you can basically glue it shut; you don't need a stitch," Musk said.

The implantation of the threads, which Musk said are a tenth the size of a human hair, require the use of a special robot, but a minimally invasive surgery.

Once the threads are implanted into the brain, their connecting chip would wirelessly connect with a device worn outside the body.

"This thing has tremendous potential and we hope to have this aspirationally in a human patient before the end of next year. So this is not far," said Musk.

Neuralink is seeking US Food and Drug Administration approval and while Musk said his preliminary task is to help people with disabilities control a smartphone with thought, the end goal is to keep up with AI.

An early focus of the team is using the technology to address brain diseases and paralysis, but the longer aim is to make implants so safe, reliable and easy that they could be elective surgery options for people seeking to enhance their brains with computing power.

Elon Musk is aiming to connect the human brain with a machine interface. And through his start-up Neuralink, Musk aism to accomplish this "before the end of next year".

Elon Musk is aiming to connect the human brain with a machine interface. And through his start-up Neuralink, Musk aism to accomplish this "before the end of next year". Speaking at a conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, Musk presented "version one" of his neuron-sized threads and micro processor chips that he claims will help people with severe brain injuries and eventually grow to allow humans to connect with advancing artificial intelligence (AI) technology. "This, I think, has a very good purpose which is to cure important diseases and ultimately to help secure humanity's future as a civilization relative to A.I. The threads are very tiny and there's a lot of them and they're very carefully placed, and the operation on a per chip basis involves just a two millimetre incision, which is dilated to eight millimetres and then the chip is placed through that. It goes back to being two millimetres and you can basically glue it shut; you don't need a stitch," Musk said. The implantation of the threads, which Musk said are a tenth the size of a human hair, require the use of a special robot, but a minimally invasive surgery. Once the threads are implanted into the brain, their connecting chip would wirelessly connect with a device worn outside the body. "This thing has tremendous potential and we hope to have this aspirationally in a human patient before the end of next year. So this is not far," said Musk. Neuralink is seeking US Food and Drug Administration approval and while Musk said his preliminary task is to help people with disabilities control a smartphone with thought, the end goal is to keep up with AI. An early focus of the team is using the technology to address brain diseases and paralysis, but the longer aim is to make implants so safe, reliable and easy that they could be elective surgery options for people seeking to enhance their brains with computing power.

Elon Musk unveils chip allowing brain-computer communication

A bold vision by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk to mesh human brains with artificial intelligence remains more science fiction than reality.

Even as Musk claimed his Neuralink startup had enabled a monkey to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-unveils-chip-allowing-brain-computer-communication-237060">control a computer with its brain</a>, experts were quick to dampen expectations for a futuristic scenario from "The Matrix" films, based on people with cybernetic implants.

Musk this week revealed his Neuralink startup is making progress on its brain-computer interface effort, and said the company hopes to begin testing on people next year.

Musk, founder of the automaker Tesla and the private space firm SpaceX, has long contended that a neural lace meshing minds with machines is vital if humans are to avoid being outpaced by artificial intelligence.

"This has a very good purpose, which is to cure important diseases and ultimately to help secure humanity's future as a civilisation relative to AI," Musk said.

He disclosed that a Neuralink implant was successfully tested in a monkey in a California university lab.

"A monkey has been able to control a computer with his brain, just FYI," Musk said, surprising the Neuralink president during a question-and-answer session.

Experts remained cautious about his vision of merging minds with super-powered computing.

Musk's description "is really an aspirational vision for something very far down the line," said University of Southern California assistant professor of biology sciences Andrew Hires.

"It is unclear if we will ever get to that stage."

Neuralink unveiled a tiny sensor with hair-thin strands that could be implanted in a brain through a small incision by a robot built for the high-precision task.

"Ultimately, we can do a full brain-machine interface," Musk said.

"Achieve a sort of symbiosis with artificial intelligence."

For now, the goal is to let a person with the implants control a smartphone with thought, but the technology could eventually extend to other devices such as robotic arms, he said.

An early focus is using the technology to address brain diseases and paralysis, but the longer aim is to make implants so safe, reliable and easy that they could be options for people seeking to enhance their brains with computing power, according to the Neuralink team.

"It is not like Neuralink will suddenly have this incredible neural lace and it will start taking over people's brains," Musk quipped.

"It will take a long time, and you will see it coming."

Musk said the goal was to make adding the brain-enhancing implants as easy a procedure as laser eye surgery.

Mystery of the mind

David Schneider, a professor at the centre for neural science at New York University, was among those who saw barriers.

A major limitation is that an array of regions of the brain are engaged for handling tasks, while implants target one part at a time.

"At the end of the day, everything we do, regardless of how simple it might seem, is a distributed brain function," Schneider said.

While technology has improved for reading information coming out of brains, it isn't up to snuff when it comes to sending it back to all the necessary parts simultaneously, according to researchers.

"They were humble enough to admit their main targets were motor areas," Ramana Vinjamuri, an engineering professor at Stevens Institute of Technology, said of Neuralink.

"I was happy they stopped there instead of claiming we are going to read your minds, your thoughts, your memories -- if they had done that I would have been laughing out loud."

Brain defences

Another challenge is that a brain implant triggers the body's defences, which treat it as alien material to be rejected.

"Say Neuralink puts it in a person tomorrow, will the interface hold up after one year and still keep giving the same signals it did day one?" Vinjamuri said.

And regulatory approval would typically require long-term testing in animals.

Neuralink could seek an "investigational device" exemption to try implants in a few patients impaired by spinal cord injuries or strokes.

"I don't know that I want to meld my brain with AI, nor do I think do many of us," said Schneider.

His hope is that Neuralink innovations could restore sight, or cure paralysis.

For now, Musk is bringing energy and private investment to a brain implant area that researchers have been working on for decades with government funding.

"We need fantastical thinkers, but we also need capital and the bravery to invest lots of capital in refining these technologies," Hires said.

A bold vision by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk to mesh human brains with artificial intelligence remains more science fiction than reality. Even as Musk claimed his Neuralink startup had enabled a monkey to control a computer with its brain, experts were quick to dampen expectations for a futuristic scenario from "The Matrix" films, based on people with cybernetic implants.

A bold vision by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk to mesh human brains with artificial intelligence remains more science fiction than reality. Even as Musk claimed his Neuralink startup had enabled a monkey to control a computer with its brain, experts were quick to dampen expectations for a futuristic scenario from "The Matrix" films, based on people with cybernetic implants. Musk this week revealed his Neuralink startup is making progress on its brain-computer interface effort, and said the company hopes to begin testing on people next year. Musk, founder of the automaker Tesla and the private space firm SpaceX, has long contended that a neural lace meshing minds with machines is vital if humans are to avoid being outpaced by artificial intelligence. "This has a very good purpose, which is to cure important diseases and ultimately to help secure humanity's future as a civilisation relative to AI," Musk said. He disclosed that a Neuralink implant was successfully tested in a monkey in a California university lab. "A monkey has been able to control a computer with his brain, just FYI," Musk said, surprising the Neuralink president during a question-and-answer session. Experts remained cautious about his vision of merging minds with super-powered computing. Musk's description "is really an aspirational vision for something very far down the line," said University of Southern California assistant professor of biology sciences Andrew Hires. "It is unclear if we will ever get to that stage." Neuralink unveiled a tiny sensor with hair-thin strands that could be implanted in a brain through a small incision by a robot built for the high-precision task. "Ultimately, we can do a full brain-machine interface," Musk said. "Achieve a sort of symbiosis with artificial intelligence." For now, the goal is to let a person with the implants control a smartphone with thought, but the technology could eventually extend to other devices such as robotic arms, he said. An early focus is using the technology to address brain diseases and paralysis, but the longer aim is to make implants so safe, reliable and easy that they could be options for people seeking to enhance their brains with computing power, according to the Neuralink team. "It is not like Neuralink will suddenly have this incredible neural lace and it will start taking over people's brains," Musk quipped. "It will take a long time, and you will see it coming." Musk said the goal was to make adding the brain-enhancing implants as easy a procedure as laser eye surgery. Mystery of the mind David Schneider, a professor at the centre for neural science at New York University, was among those who saw barriers. A major limitation is that an array of regions of the brain are engaged for handling tasks, while implants target one part at a time. "At the end of the day, everything we do, regardless of how simple it might seem, is a distributed brain function," Schneider said. While technology has improved for reading information coming out of brains, it isn't up to snuff when it comes to sending it back to all the necessary parts simultaneously, according to researchers. "They were humble enough to admit their main targets were motor areas," Ramana Vinjamuri, an engineering professor at Stevens Institute of Technology, said of Neuralink. "I was happy they stopped there instead of claiming we are going to read your minds, your thoughts, your memories -- if they had done that I would have been laughing out loud." Brain defences Another challenge is that a brain implant triggers the body's defences, which treat it as alien material to be rejected. "Say Neuralink puts it in a person tomorrow, will the interface hold up after one year and still keep giving the same signals it did day one?" Vinjamuri said. And regulatory approval would typically require long-term testing in animals. Neuralink could seek an "investigational device" exemption to try implants in a few patients impaired by spinal cord injuries or strokes. "I don't know that I want to meld my brain with AI, nor do I think do many of us," said Schneider. His hope is that Neuralink innovations could restore sight, or cure paralysis. For now, Musk is bringing energy and private investment to a brain implant area that researchers have been working on for decades with government funding. "We need fantastical thinkers, but we also need capital and the bravery to invest lots of capital in refining these technologies," Hires said.

Elon Musk's machine-meshed superhumans remain stuff of fantasy, say experts

Tesla founder and Chief Executive Elon Musk said his latest company Neuralink is working to link the human brain with a machine interface by creating micron-sized devices.

Neuralink is aiming to bring to the market a product that helps with certain severe brain injuries due to stroke, cancer lesion etc, in about four years, Musk said in an interview with website Wait But Why.

&quot;If I were to communicate a concept to you, you would essentially engage in consensual telepathy,&quot; Musk said in the interview published on Thursday.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning will create computers so sophisticated and godlike that humans will need to implant &quot;neural laces&quot; in their brains to keep up, Musk said in a tech conference last year.

&quot;There are a bunch of concepts in your head that then your brain has to try to compress into this incredibly low data rate called speech or typing,&quot; Musk said in the latest interview.

&quot;If you have two brain interfaces, you could actually do an uncompressed direct conceptual communication with another person.&quot;

The technology could take about eight to 10 years to become usable by people with no disability, which would depend heavily on regulatory approval timing and how well the devices work on people with disabilities, Musk was quoted as saying.

In March, the Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had launched a company through which computers could merge with human brains. Neuralink was registered in California as a &quot;medical research&quot; company last July, and he plans on funding the company mostly by himself.

(Reuters)

Musk's latest company Neuralink is aiming to bring to the market a product that helps with certain severe brain injuries

Tesla founder and Chief Executive Elon Musk said his latest company Neuralink is working to link the human brain with a machine interface by creating micron-sized devices. Neuralink is aiming to bring to the market a product that helps with certain severe brain injuries due to stroke, cancer lesion etc, in about four years, Musk said in an interview with website Wait But Why. "If I were to communicate a concept to you, you would essentially engage in consensual telepathy," Musk said in the interview published on Thursday. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will create computers so sophisticated and godlike that humans will need to implant "neural laces" in their brains to keep up, Musk said in a tech conference last year. "There are a bunch of concepts in your head that then your brain has to try to compress into this incredibly low data rate called speech or typing," Musk said in the latest interview. "If you have two brain interfaces, you could actually do an uncompressed direct conceptual communication with another person." The technology could take about eight to 10 years to become usable by people with no disability, which would depend heavily on regulatory approval timing and how well the devices work on people with disabilities, Musk was quoted as saying. In March, the Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had launched a company through which computers could merge with human brains. Neuralink was registered in California as a "medical research" company last July, and he plans on funding the company mostly by himself. (Reuters)

Elon Musk on mission to link human brains with computers in four years: Report

Tesla Inc founder and chief executive Elon Musk has launched a company called Neuralink Corp through which computers could merge with human brains, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Neuralink is pursuing what Musk calls the &quot;neural lace&quot; technology, implanting tiny brain electrodes that may one day upload and download thoughts, the Journal reported.

Musk has not made an official announcement, but Neuralink was registered in California as a &quot;medical research&quot; company last July, and he plans on funding the company mostly by himself, a person briefed on the plans told the Journal.

It is unclear what sorts of products Neuralink might create, but people who have had discussions with the company describe a strategy similar to space launch company SpaceX and Tesla, the Journal report said.

In recent weeks, Neuralink has also hired leading academics in the field, the Journal reported.

(Reuters)

Musk has launched a company called Neuralink Corp through which computers could merge with human brains, WSJ reported

Tesla Inc founder and chief executive Elon Musk has launched a company called Neuralink Corp through which computers could merge with human brains, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Neuralink is pursuing what Musk calls the "neural lace" technology, implanting tiny brain electrodes that may one day upload and download thoughts, the Journal reported. Musk has not made an official announcement, but Neuralink was registered in California as a "medical research" company last July, and he plans on funding the company mostly by himself, a person briefed on the plans told the Journal. It is unclear what sorts of products Neuralink might create, but people who have had discussions with the company describe a strategy similar to space launch company SpaceX and Tesla, the Journal report said. In recent weeks, Neuralink has also hired leading academics in the field, the Journal reported. (Reuters)

New Elon Musk company may (one day) allow upload, download of thoughts: WSJ

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