- Neuralink criticized: 1,500 animals killed, including monkeys.
- Docs question safety, animal welfare.
- Public skeptical as Neuralink plans human trials.
The experiments, spanning three years from 2017 to 2020, involved drilling holes into monkeys' heads, attaching brain implants that did not fit properly, and filling the holes with 'Bioglue' before the animals were ultimately euthanized.
According to the documents released by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), monkeys underwent skull operations up to 10 times each, leading to severe complications. Some monkeys experienced protruding brain implants, while others faced limb amputations and were put down after suffering from vomiting and diarrhea episodes.
The total toll of Neuralink's experiments on animals reportedly reaches 1,500, including sheep and pigs. The PCRM condemns the company's actions, alleging a "systematic disregard" for the lives of these animals, describing the suffering they endured as "extreme."
Elon Musk's recent claim of successfully implanting a Neuralink device into a human further amplifies concerns. Musk's ambitious statements about the technology's potential, such as enabling communication faster than typing or even achieving symbiosis with artificial intelligence, are met with skepticism by the PCRM.
The campaign group urges the public to remain cautious about the safety and functionality of any device produced by Neuralink, citing the company's "well-documented history of conducting unnecessary, sloppy experiments." They question Musk's true intentions, suggesting that his focus on achieving symbiosis with AI may not align with developing treatments for patients.
As Neuralink gears up for human trials, which involve surgeons removing part of participants' skulls and implanting electrodes on the brain with a robot, the controversy surrounding the project intensifies. The public is left questioning the ethical implications and the price paid by animals in Neuralink's pursuit of advancing brain-machine interface technology.
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