Neuralink has finally received approval from the US National Food and Drug Agency (FDA) to begin clinical trials of brain implants in humans. Elon Musk's company announced a brain implant that they say allows for a direct interface between the human brain and a computer.
With the existence of brain implants, paralyzed people can walk again with signals from the brain sent directly to the legs even without a spinal cord connection. It is also seen to allow people to interact with computers without physical devices and only using brainwaves.
Permission to begin human clinical trials was granted after it was reportedly delayed due to issues that surfaced in earlier tests on primates and laboratory animals. Issues regarding the safety of brain-mounted batteries also prevented approval from being granted.
Brain implant technology is not exclusive to Neuralink. Synchron's firm already started human trials for Stendrod's implant-controlled device last year. Brain implants from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) from Switzerland also enabled some paralyzed people to walk again last year.