The Monkey Business Behind Neuralink Implants

Elon Musk’s Neuralink: A Dive into the Controversial Realm of Brain Chips

The tech world was abuzz with a mix of excitement and apprehension when news broke that Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain chip company, had successfully implanted its revolutionary technology into a human subject. This groundbreaking development, however, comes with a dark shadow looming over it, courtesy of the grim fate that befell some of the monkeys used in Neuralink’s earlier experiments.

Last May, Neuralink made waves by announcing FDA approval for testing its brain implants on humans. Subsequently, the company kickstarted the recruitment process for willing subjects. However, a report in September shed light on the disturbing outcomes suffered by a group of rhesus macaques involved in Neuralink’s trials, with some experiencing brain swelling, partial paralysis, and even self-harming behavior.

Shockingly, a macaque in a 2019 experiment had a chip break off during implantation, leading to a fatal infection due to the blocked treatment options. The unsettling revelation that 21 percent of Neuralink’s monkeys met their demise due to complications from brain implants raises ethical concerns about the company’s testing protocols.

Neuralink’s acquisition of these primates from the California National Primate Research Center at UC Davis hints at the early stages of the company’s research, primarily conducted between 2019 and 2020. Investors were left in the dark about the distressing specifics of these trials, prompting calls for the SEC to investigate whether Neuralink and Musk deliberately concealed the macabre realities from stakeholders.

While the SEC’s stance on probing Neuralink remains ambiguous, past scrutiny into the company’s testing methods has raised eyebrows. In a 2023 update, the agency concluded its investigations with minimal rule violations found, barring a 2019 incident self-reported by Neuralink. The crux of the issue lies in the alleged lack of upfront disclosure about Neuralink’s animal testing history before soliciting investments and human trial participants.

As the debate around Neuralink’s transparency and ethical practices intensifies, the allure of merging human cognition with artificial intelligence through brain chips continues to captivate the tech community. The juxtaposition of groundbreaking innovation and ethical dilemmas underscores the complex landscape in which companies like Neuralink operate, where the pursuit of scientific advancement must navigate the moral compass of society.