Elon Musk and Neuralink: Brain chips implanted in twelve people

Elon Musk is once again causing a stir with his company Neuralink . As the tech billionaire announced via Platform X, he has successfully implanted a brain chip in twelve people worldwide. The technology is intended to enable patients to control computers and other devices using their thoughts.

As recently as June, Neuralink's partner, Barrow Neurological Institute, announced that it had implanted such a chip in seven people suffering from severe paralysis. After the procedure, they were able to operate computers and other devices. This pilot phase, it reported, lasted 2,000 days.

Neuralink: Great opportunity for people with neurological problems

Neuralink is based in California and has been testing its technology on humans since 2024. It was previously tested on monkeys. A clinical trial is expected to last six years. The subjects suffer from quadriplegia, a paraplegia affecting the legs and arms, Musk recently announced.

Brain implants are considered a great opportunity, especially for people with neurological problems. However, it is still unclear how long the electrodes in the brain will function reliably, as tissue changes or scarring can impair signal quality. Hardware problems such as overheating, corrosion, or cable breakage could have serious consequences for the brain.