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Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube Listen to and follow ‘Hard Fork’This week, more drama at OpenAI: The company wanted Scarlett Johansson to be a voice of GPT-4o, she said no … but something got lost in translation. Then we talk with Noland Arbaugh, the first person to get Elon Musk’s Neuralink device implanted in his brain, about how his brain-computer interface has changed his life. And finally, the Times’s Karen Weise reports back from Microsoft’s developer conference, where the big buzz was that the company’s new line of A.I. PCs will record every single thing you do on the device. Guests:Noland Arbaugh, the first Neuralink patientKaren Weise, technology correspondent for The New York TimesAdditional Reading:

Persons: Scarlett Johansson, Noland Arbaugh, Elon Musk’s, Karen Weise Organizations: Apple, Spotify, The New York Times

☆ Despite Setback, Neuralink’s First Brain-Implant Patient Stays Upbeat
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Christina Jewett | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Just four months ago, Noland Arbaugh had a circle of bone removed from his skull and hair-thin sensor tentacles slipped into his brain. A computer about the size of a small stack of quarters was placed on top and the hole was sealed. Paralyzed below the neck, Mr. Arbaugh is the first patient to take part in the clinical trial of humans testing Elon Musk’s Neuralink device, and his early progress was greeted with excitement. Neuralink’s staff had to retool the system to allow him to regain command of the cursor. Though he needed to learn a new method to click on something, he can still skate the cursor across the screen.

Persons: Noland Arbaugh, Arbaugh, Elon Organizations: Mario Kart

☆ Elon Musk’s Neuralink is seeking a second person to test its brain chip
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Elon Musk’s brain implant startup Neuralink is accepting applications for a second human trial participant to test its device, the billionaire said on X Friday. Neuralink said that the threads connecting the chip to Arbaugh’s brain had retracted, causing performance issues, although the company said it made adjustments to improve its function. Still, Arbaugh says the implant — which allows him to control a computer cursor with his brain — has changed his life. This is the next step forward of helping people with paralysis.”Now, Neuralink is seeking more people like Arbaugh to test out its brain chip. About a month after the operation, Musk said Arbaugh could control a computer mouse with his brain.

Persons: New York CNN — Elon, Neuralink, Noland Arbaugh, Arbaugh, ” Arbaugh, “, ” Neuralink, Musk, ”, DJ Seo, Noland, – CNN’s Jordan Valinsky Organizations: New, New York CNN, Morning America, Morning Locations: New York, Morning America

☆ Neuralink’s first brain chip implant developed a problem — but there was a workaround
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —The first test subject for Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain chip implant startup, has developed a problem just a few weeks after it was inserted. But the company said it was able to make the implant more sensitive to increase its performance even further. About a month after the operation, Musk said Arbaugh could control a computer mouse with his brain after having the chip implanted. Like existing brain-machine interfaces, the company’s implant would collect electrical signals sent out by the brain and interpret them as actions. Before Neuralink’s brain implants hit the broader market, they’ll need broader regulatory approval.

Persons: Elon, Noland, ” Neuralink, Musk, Stephen Hawking, ” Musk, Neuralink, – CNN’s Clare Duffy Organizations: New, New York CNN, Neuralink, Consumers, Drug, Wall Street Locations: New York

Without ever clicking a mouse or touching a screen, Mark selected this command on his computer simply using signals from his brain. “I figured I had two choices: I could wallow in self-pity, or I could pick myself up by the bootstraps and do what I could to help,” Mark said. Synchron’s brain implant, the one Mark has, is called a Stentrode and consists of a stent with electrode sensors that can detect electrical brain activity. That external transmitter sits right above the internal transmitter and carries the signal from Mark’s brain to the computer almost instantaneously. Earlier this month, Musk also said Neuralink’s first human trial participant can control a computer mouse with their brain.

Persons: Sanjay Gupta’s, Erin Burnett OutFront, CNN —, Mark, Lou Gehrig’s, ” Mark, Elon Musk, ”, “, Sanjay Gupta, Synchron, Tom Oxley, hardwired, he’s, Mark didn’t, “ We’d, Maria Nardozzi, ” Oxley, CNN Mark, Musk’s Neuralink, Oxley, António Guterres, ” Elon Musk, Gonzalo Fuentes, Neuralink, Musk, Hope Organizations: CNN, BCI, US Food and Drug Administration, Netflix, US Securities and Exchange Commission, United Nations, Reuters, SpaceX Locations: Neuralink, UNESCO’s, Pennsylvania

☆ Elon Musk says Neuralink's first patient can move a computer mouse 'by just thinking'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk claims Neuralink's first human patient can move a computer mouse by thinking. The neurotech firm implanted its device into the first human patient in January. Neuralink's brain-chip implant, Telepathy, was approved for human trials by the FDA last May. AdvertisementElon Musk said Neuralink’s first human patient to receive a brain-chip implant can now move a computer mouse cursor using their mind alone. The FDA initially rejected Neuralink’s request last March to start human trials, Reuters reported, over concerns that included the chip possibly overheating.

Persons: Elon Musk, —, Musk, “ We’re, we’re, Neuralink, Neuralink’s, Neuralink didn’t Organizations: FDA, Service, Food and Drug Administration, Reuters, Business

☆ First Neuralink human trial subject can control a computer mouse with brain implant, Elon Musk says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Elon Musk says Neuralink’s first human trial participant can control a computer mouse with their brain, nearly one month after having the company’s chip implanted. Trial patients will have a chip surgically placed in the part of the brain that controls the intention to move. Like existing brain-machine interfaces, the company’s implant would collect electrical signals sent out by the brain and interpret them as actions. Before Neuralink’s brain implants hit the broader market, they’ll need regulatory approval. Elon Musk's Neuralink aims to one day let humans control computers with their minds.

Persons: New York CNN — Elon Musk, ” Musk, “ We’re, we’re, ”, Musk, Neuralink, Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk's, Gabby Jones, Sychron, –, Madhok, Jen Christensen Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Reuters Locations: New York

NEW YORK (AP) — According to Elon Musk, the first human received an implant from his computer-brain interface company Neuralink over the weekend. Neuralink reposted Musk's Monday post on X, but did not publish any additional statements acknowledging the human implant. In its September announcement, Neuralink said the wires would be surgically placed in a region of the brain that controls movement intention. The initial goal of the so-called brain computer interface is to give people the ability to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone. There are more than 40 brain computer interface trials underway, according to clinicaltrials.gov.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Neuralink, Gehrig’s Disease, ___ Laura Ungar Organizations: Twitter, Associated Press, Drug Administration Locations: Columbia , Missouri

☆ Elon Musk says the first human patient has received a brain implant from Neuralink
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New Delhi CNN —Elon Musk’s controversial startup Neuralink has implanted a chip in a human brain for the first time, the billionaire said in a post on his X platform late Monday. The operation took place on Sunday and the patient was recovering well, he added. “Initial results show promising neuron spike detection,” the world’s richest man said on X, the social media platform he owns. In May last year, Neuralink received FDA clearance for human clinical trials, and a few months later, the startup began recruiting patients with quadriplegia caused by cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Trial patients will have a chip surgically placed in the part of the brain that controls the intention to move.

Persons: New Delhi CNN — Elon, Stephen Hawking, ”, Neuralink Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN Locations: New Delhi

☆ What to know about human brain implants
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Here’s what to know about brain implants. What is a human brain implant? Doctors implant these kinds of devices on the surface of the brain or deep with in it. Neuralink’s equipment is about the size of a coin; Synchron’s is a small stent-like device that goes into the blood vessels in the brain. In 2021, Neuralink demonstrated how this worked with a monkey named Pager, who had two of these wireless devices implanted into its brain.

Persons: CNN —, Synchron, won’t, we’ve, ”, Paul Nuyujukian, Neuralink, ” Nuyujukian, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, “ Organizations: CNN, CNN — Elon, Stanford University, CNN Health, US Food and Drug Administration

☆ Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain implant startup, set to begin human trials
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Elon Musk’s controversial biotechnology startup Neuralink opened up recruitment for its first human clinical trial Tuesday, according to a company blog. After receiving approval from an independent review board, Neuralink is set to begin offering brain implants to paralysis patients as part of the PRIME Study, the company said. In May, Neuralink tweeted that it had received FDA clearance for human clinical trials, with the approval acknowledged by the agency in a statement. Musk has forecast human trials at the startup at least four times since 2019, yet the company didn’t seek FDA approval until 2022. Before Neuralink’s brain implants hit the broader market, they’ll need regulatory approval.

Persons: New York CNN — Elon, Musk, Neuralink, Peter Thiel, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Founders Fund, PayPal, Twitter, Reuters, Food and Drug Administration, FDA Locations: New York, San Francisco, Neuralink

☆ Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain implant startup, raises $280 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Elon Musk’s biotechnology startup Neuralink raised $280 million in a fundraising round, the company announced Monday via X, the Musk-owned social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “We’re extremely excited about this next chapter at Neuralink,” the company wrote. The brain chip startup wants to use implants to connect your brain to a computer, a goal Musk has been working on for five years. The funding news comes months after Musk announced the company was moving towards human trials. Before Neuralink’s brain implants are mass-produced and hit the broader market, they’ll need regulatory approval.

Persons: New York CNN —, Peter Thiel, Neuralink, Musk, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York CNN — Elon, Twitter, Founders Fund, PayPal, Food and Drug Administration, Reuters, FDA, Neuralink Monday Locations: New York, San Francisco, Neuralink

The membership of the panel at Musk’s company, Neuralink, raises questions about potential violations of conflict-of-interest regulations aimed at protecting research integrity, a dozen animal-research and bioethics experts told Reuters. Autumn Sorrells has chaired an oversight board approving animal experiments by Elon Musk’s brain-chip startup, Neuralink, and also run the company’s animal care program. Reuters couldn’t determine the compensation terms of the Neuralink IACUC members who are also company employees. The independence of such boards, Nicolelis said, is critical to protecting the integrity of animal research that could impact humans in future clinical trials. These institutions generally prohibit people with direct financial interests from serving on IACUCs or voting on animal experiments.

☆ Factbox: Elon Musk's missed deadlines for FDA approval of Neuralink brain-chip trials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Rachael Levy | Thomson Reuters | Award-Winning Journalist Covering Corporate Governance. Her Reporting Has Prompted Federal Investigations | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 2 (Reuters) - Several times since 2019, billionaire Elon Musk has predicted his brain-chip company, Neuralink, would soon secure FDA approval for human trials. But the company's application was rejected in early 2022, Neuralink staffers told Reuters, and the company is still working through the agency's concerns over the safety of the experimental implant. Here is a history of Musk's predictions of FDA clinical-trial approval:July 2019: Musk says Neuralink is aiming to receive regulatory approval for human trials of brain implants by the end of 2020. February 2021: Musk tweets: “Neuralink is working super hard to ensure implant safety & is in close communication with the FDA. Reporting by Rachael LevyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. regulators rejected Elon Musk’s bid to test brain chips in humans
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Musk’s missed deadlines for FDA approval of Neuralink July 2019:Musk says Neuralink is aiming to receive regulatory approval for human trials of brain implants by the end of 2020. “Everybody in the industry was saying: ‘Oh my God, they’re going to run straight into a brick wall,’” Ludwig said of Musk’s bid for FDA approval. For example, NeuroPace, which makes the brain implant to treat epilepsy, received final FDA approval in 2013 – 16 years after the company’s launch. The FDA’s concerns about the battery are also potentially serious, experts in brain devices said. Still, that proposal disappointed Neuralink because it could delay progress toward final FDA approval, one of the sources said.

☆ U.S. investigating Elon Musk's Neuralink over hazardous pathogens
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Rachael Levy | Thomson Reuters | Award-Winning Journalist Covering Corporate Governance. Her Reporting Has Prompted Federal Investigations | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Feb 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Transportation said on Thursday it is investigating Elon Musk's brain-implant company Neuralink over the potentially illegal movement of hazardous pathogens. The Department of Transportation spokesperson said the agency took PCRM's allegations "very seriously." Reuters reviewed the UC Davis records cited by PCRM in its letter. Neuralink messages and records not shared with UC Davis are not subject to such information requests. A UC Davis spokesperson would only say that the university abides by all biohazard and lab safety regulations.

☆ Elon Musk's Neuralink may have illegally transported pathogens, animal advocates say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Rachael Levy | Thomson Reuters | Award-Winning Journalist Covering Corporate Governance. Her Reporting Has Prompted Federal Investigations | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Reuters reviewed the UC Davis records cited by PCRM in its letter. PCRM obtained the records from UC Davis through public information requests. Neuralink messages and records not shared with UC Davis are not subject to such information requests. A UC Davis spokesperson would only say that the university abides by all biohazard and lab safety regulations. During its partnership with UC Davis, Neuralink grew frustrated with what it regarded as the slow pace of testing on primates, current and former company employees told Reuters, and has since built out extensive in-house animal testing facilities.

The agency did not respond to requests for comment on its record monitoring animal research experiments nationally. The USDA inspector general has published at least three reports since 2014 critical of the agency’s lax oversight, though its criticism dates back to the 1990s. Neuralink says on its website that it champions animal welfare and tries to reduce animal testing where possible. Two academic studies conducted in 2009 and 2012 found that animal research committees approved between 98% and 99% of experiments proposed by researchers. Envigo was made to sign the consent decree giving up the beagles only after the USDA inspector general and the Justice Department investigated and found evidence of inhumane treatment.

☆ Fact Check-USA Today headline saying Musk company killed 3,000 monkeys is not real
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An image of a fabricated USA Today headline is circulating on social media that claims Neuralink, Elon Musk’s company working on brain-implant technology, has killed 3,000 monkeys. The altered headline in full reads, “Elon Musk’s Neuralink implants have killed nearly 3000 monkeys since last December, 98% fatality rate” and was purportedly written by Bailey Schulz, a general assignment money reporter at USA Today. A viral tweet that shared the fabricated headline on Dec. 1 received over 100,600 likes and 8,200 retweets at the time of writing (here). Gannett, the media company that owns USA Today, confirmed via email that the headline is fake and never appeared on usatoday.com. A USA Today headline that says Neuralink killed 3,000 monkeys is fabricated.

☆ Exclusive: Musk’s Neuralink faces federal probe, employee backlash over animal tests
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Rachael Levy | Thomson Reuters | Award-Winning Journalist Covering Corporate Governance. Her Reporting Has Prompted Federal Investigations | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

Reuters could not determine the full scope of the federal investigation or whether it involved the same alleged problems with animal testing identified by employees in Reuters interviews. Musk has pushed hard to accelerate Neuralink’s progress, which depends heavily on animal testing, current and former employees said. Delcianna Winders, director of the Animal Law and Policy Institute at the Vermont Law and Graduate School, said it is “very unusual” for the USDA inspector general to investigate animal research facilities. In September, the company responded to employee concerns about its animal testing by holding a town hall to explain its processes. “We’re extremely careful,” he said, to make sure that testing is “confirmatory, not exploratory,” using animal testing as a last resort after trying other methods.

☆ Elon Musk says expects Neuralink to begin human trials in six months
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 30 (Reuters) - Elon Musk said on Wednesday a wireless device developed by his brain chip company Neuralink is expected to begin human clinical trials in six months. The company is developing brain chip interfaces that it says could enable disabled patients to move and communicate again. He then said at a conference in late 2021 that he hoped to start human trials this year. Neuralink has repeatedly missed internal deadlines to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to start human trials, current and former employees have said. It received U.S. regulatory clearance for human trials in 2021 and has completed studies in four people in Australia.

☆ Elon Musk’s Neuralink shows brain implant prototype and robotic surgeon during recruiting event
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The event showcased a video that Musk said showed a monkey using a brain implant to control a cursor and type on a computer. Musk noted during the “show and tell” event that the primary goal of the evening was to recruit talent to Neuralink. Musk, however, also tends to emphasize non-medical uses, such as using brain implants to even the playing field, if digital artificial intelligence becomes smarter than any human. During Wednesday’s event, Musk was asked if Neuralink would plan to make its tools available to neuroscientists. Before Neuralink’s brain implants are mass produced and hit the broader market, they’ll need regulatory approval.

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