US Authorities Block Elon Musk's Brain Chip Trials on Humans

US regulators have refused to grant permission for Elon Musk's company to test brain implants on humans, as reported by Reuters in the context of an investigation into Neuralink's operations. The company submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in early 2022, but it was rejected, according to several former and current employees of the agency.

The fact that Neuralink plans to test brain chips on humans has been stated by Musk multiple times since 2019. The entrepreneur claims that the implants developed by the company could potentially help treat diseases such as strokes and blindness.

As a basis for the rejection, the regulator listed dozens of issues that Neuralink must address before moving on to human trials. The lithium battery of the device was reportedly the biggest concern, according to sources from Reuters. The main question is how to remove the device without damaging brain tissue, and whether this is even feasible.

Agency sources reported that a year after the FDA's rejection, the company still has not resolved the issues. However, Musk promised in November that Neuralink would receive regulatory approval in the spring of 2023.