Elon Musk has demonstrated the Neuralink brain chip in a pig, a monkey and we could soon see preform in a human brain.
The firm posted a new job listing for a clinical trial director, which says the right candidate will ‘work closely with some of the most innovative doctors and top engineers, as well as working with Neuralink’s first Clinical Trial participants.’
The position is based in Fremont, California and provides the candidate with commuter benefits, meals and ‘an opportunity to change the world.’
It also indicates that the job will mean leading and building ‘the team responsible for enabling Neuralink’s clinical research activities,’ as well as adhering to regulations.
s
Neuralink posted a new job listing, first spotted by Bloomberg, for a clinical trial director, which says the right candidate will ‘work closely with some of the most innovative doctors and top engineers, as well as working with Neuralink’s first Clinical Trial participants
Although the posting does not say when the trials will begin, Musk revealed last month that they are less than a year away – meaning human trials could start this year.
‘Neuralink’s working well in monkeys and we’re actually doing just a lot of testing and just confirming that it’s very safe and reliable and the Neuralink device can be removed safely,’ Musk said during a live-streamed interview with The Wall Street Journal CEO Council Summit.
We hope to have this in our first humans — which will be people that have severe spinal cord injuries like tetraplegics, quadriplegics — next year, pending FDA approval.
‘I think we have a chance of being able to allow someone who cannot walk or use their arms be able to walk again – but not naturally.’
Neuralink’s system is comprised of a computer chip attached to tiny flexible threads that are stitched into the brain by a ‘sewing-machine-like’ robot
Musk first unveiled his Neuralink startup in 2016, touting the technology as the key to helping paraplegics walk, the cure for depression and a way to merge humans with computers.
Neuralink’s system is comprised of a computer chip attached to tiny flexible threads that are stitched into the brain by a ‘sewing-machine-like’ robot.
The device pickups signals in the brain, which are then translated into motor controls.
Musk says that the technology has proven to be safe in the brain and can be easily removed, so the only thing holding Neuralink back from human trials is FDA approval.
‘Our standards for implanting the device are higher than what the FDA approves, just like our standards for safety are much higher than what the US government requires.’
The company’s first demonstration took place on August 28, 2020, an event Musk hyped up by saying Neuralink will ‘show neurons firing in real-time.’ Although that is what was presented during the live demonstration, those tuning in were disappointed when the neurons were that of a pig named Gertrude and not a human
Neuralink went quiet for a few months after until April 9, 2021 when the implant was demonstrated in a monkey, allowing it to play the videogame Pong with its mind
However, the billionaire has promised to start human trials before – in 2019, he was eyeing testing at the end of 2020.
Musk also has the reputation of building up anticipation for his company’s technologies, just to under deliver and disappoint.
The company’s first demonstration took place on August 28, 2020, an event Musk hyped up by saying Neuralink will ‘show neurons firing in real-time.’
Musk says that the technology has proven to be safe in the brain and can be easily removed, so the only thing holding Neuralink back from human trials is FDA approval
Although that is what was presented during the live demonstration, those tuning in were disappointed when the neurons were that of a pig named Gertrude and not a human.
Neuralink went quiet for a few months after until April 9, 2021 when the implant was demonstrated in a monkey, allowing it to play the videogame Pong with its mind.
Musk is more focused on using the technology to help people suffering with mobility issues regain control of their lives, he also wants to use it to merge humans with computer.
The move would provide the average person with super-human intelligence that hooks their brain up to the cloud where memories can be stored, thoughts can be exchanged and experiences can be had.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk