After years of denials, Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-implant company, announced Thursday that it had received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin human clinical trials.
The FDA approval “represents an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people,” Neuralink said in the tweet announcing the major step forward in their research.
Musk has been touting impending human trials for his brain implant research since as far back as 2019, but Neuralink’s first attempt at an FDA OK only came in 2022.
Seven different current and former employees told Reuters in March that the FDA had rejected Neuralink in the past.
Musk has said in the past that he believes uses for the implants could range from curing autism, depression, obesity and schizophrenia to unlocking telepathic abilities.
According to reports sourced from employees, the FDA has pointed out a number of concerns about the implementation of the implant on humans, including its lithium battery, the chances of its wires migrating with the brain, and how to remove the device without causing brain damage.
Since its founding in 2016, Neuralink has been the subject of a number of federal investigations, including whether dangerous pathogens were illegally transported without proper containment on chips removed from monkey brains and possible animal-welfare violations.
Neuralink has yet to respond to questions about the investigations.
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