DIGIVESTASI - The first patient of Elon Musk's startup Neuralink brain implant has fully recovered from surgery. According to Elon Musk, quoted by Reuters, Tuesday (February 20, 2024), the test patient can now control a computer mouse just by thinking. 
"The progress is going well. The patient has fully recovered and has seen the neurological effects we expected," Musk said via his personal X account.

"The patient can move the mouse on the screen just by thinking," he added. Neuralink is currently trying to test how many mouse clicks the patient can make mentally. Neuralink did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the details of the patient's condition. 

Reference: Last month, the company successfully implanted a chip into a human brain for the first time. The move comes after Neuralink received approval for human clinical trials in September 2023. Neuralink's research uses robots to build a computer interface (BCI) into the human brain, specifically the part that controls movement.

Neuralink's goal so far is to allow people implanted with brain chips to use their minds to control their cursors and keyboards. Mr. Musk has big dreams for Neuralink. The billionaire says his startup can now perform medical surgeries faster. In addition, the Neuralink program is expected to help treat conditions such as obesity, autism, depression and schizophrenia. 

Neuralink, which was valued at $5 billion last year, has repeatedly faced protests over its safety protocols. Reuters reported last month that Neuralink was fined for violating US Department of Transportation regulations regarding the transportation of hazardous materials.