Elon Musk will implant a chip in the human brain next year

Elon Musk, co-founder of brain-computer interface company Neuralink, said the process of implanting computer chips into paralyzed patients will take place in 2022.

Testing of Neuralink's chip will begin with patients with spinal cord injuries. This schedule is two years behind schedule. The device will allow patients who have lost control of their limbs to interact with digital devices. Thanks to that, people with paralysis of limbs can place orders, communicate with friends, surf the web directly using brain waves.

Neuralink has already experimented with implanting the chip in monkeys, but Musk says successfully applying the technology in humans remains a big challenge.

Previously, Neuralink tested a monkey to play video games with the brain earlier this year, but Musk stressed that successfully applying the technology in humans is still a big challenge.

"Neuralink works well in monkeys. We have conducted many tests and confirmed the technology is very safe and reliable. The Neuralink device can be removed from the brain," Musk said. "We hope to be able to implant the device in patients with severe spinal cord injuries such as quadriplegia after the Food and Drug Administration approves it."

The Neuralink chip works by implanting electrodes in an area of ​​the brain that controls voluntary movement, and then connecting it to a larger network called Link, which processes, stimulates, and transmits nerve signals. The device uses external wireless charging and connects wirelessly to the device allowing the user to control it without touching it. According to Neuralink, the electrode system is so sophisticated that the company has to develop its own robotic system to implant the device in the correct position.

Neuralink isn't the only company developing brain-computer interfaces. In April last year, a device developed by the company BrainGate allows paralyzed patients to control computers with their brains, and the results are promising. Both BrainGate and Neuralink rely on wireless connectivity to make the device more viable in everyday life.