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Source: The post is based on the article “Why approval for Elon Musk’s Neuralink for humans is a bad idea” published in The Indian Express on 15th June 2023.
Syllabus: GS 3 – Science and Technology
Relevance: About Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)
News: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to Neuralink, a neurotech startup co-founded by Elon Musk, to conduct clinical trials on a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) implant for humans.
About Neuralink’s BCI
Neuralink aims to address brain disorders and eventually merge human consciousness with artificial intelligence (AI).
The company hopes to build a surgically implantable chip containing several electrodes that allows the brain to convey intent of movement to a device connected via Bluetooth and then the device decodes the neural data and converts intent to action.
Despite the claims made by Neuralink about its Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology, it lacks transparency and concrete evidence to support its claims.
Moreover, there are several major safety and viability concerns with Neuralink.
What are the concerns with Neuralink’s device?
Lack of Reliable Data: One of the major problems with Neuralink is the lack of published data supporting its technology.
Only one article has been published by the company which described the chip and the surgical implantation process, accompanied by a single image of a rodent with the implant.
However, before a device is approved for use in humans, its feasibility and safety parameters need in-depth pre-clinical assessment in more mammals such as pigs, sheep and monkeys.
Dependence on the Existing Technology: Most of Neuralink’s work depends upon existing research in the field.
For instance, it has increased data collection, by implanting 3,000+ electrodes in comparison with 256 electrodes that have been done previously.
This may provide the desired increase in speed and accuracy comparable to real-time movement.
Safety of Materials: The safety of the materials used in the implants is a major concern, considering the invasive surgical procedure.
Further, it is crucial to ensure the materials are truly inert and stable, even with surface coatings. It is also required to investigate any potential leaching of harmful chemicals into the brain over time.
Another concern is the use of thin wires, which may result in higher resistance and susceptibility to heat generation.
The thinness of the wires raises questions about their ability to stay in place within a freely moving human. The movement of the wires and their impact on the surrounding brain tissue are also important factors to consider.
Animal Welfare: Neuralink has faced significant scrutiny and legal challenges due to violations of animal welfare in its invasive implant surgeries, specifically involving monkeys.
The animal ethics group’s lawsuit has also provided on high mortality rates among animals, primarily caused by surgery-related infections and other complications.
Overall, the available information to the public regarding the procedure’s safety and the implant’s effectiveness is limited and lacks comprehensive quantitative data.
Like these there are many concerns with the Neuralink devices. However, it tends to hide those concerns by showing off the coolness of its device.
What lies ahead?
While the concept of Neuralink’s interface holds potential, there are numerous steps required before it can genuinely benefit patients in need.
It is crucial to remain attentive because history has shown instances in the US medical field where profit was prioritized over patient safety, and regulatory oversight failed to effectively address such practices.
