Tech billionaire Elon Musk's brain-science startup, Neuralink, has successfully implanted a device in a human for the first time, according to an announcement made by Musk on social media platform X. Although Musk did not disclose the identity of the patient or provide specific details about the procedure or the device, he did mention that the patient is recovering well. This development marks a significant step forward for Neuralink, which aims to create a product that allows individuals to control external devices through their thoughts alone.

The concept of brain-computer interfaces has been explored by scientists for decades, with the potential to assist physically disabled individuals and revolutionize communication. While Neuralink's progress has not been independently verified, one of its competitors, Precision Neuroscience, successfully implanted a device in a human last year. Neuralink received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its first in-human clinical study eight months ago and began recruiting patients for the trial in September.

Based in San Francisco, Neuralink has not provided further information about the recent implant procedure. The FDA, responsible for regulating medical devices and approving consumer products, has not yet commented on Musk's announcement. Neuralink has previously stated that it is developing a brain implant called the Link to assist patients with severe paralysis in using external technologies.

Musk revealed that Neuralink's first product will be called 'Telepathy,' although it remains unclear if this refers to a new device or a rebranding of the previously announced Link. Telepathy is intended to enable users to control their phones, computers, and other devices solely through their thoughts. Musk emphasized that the initial users of Telepathy will be individuals who have lost the use of their limbs, envisioning a future where people with disabilities, like renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, can communicate even faster than a professional typist or auctioneer.

Neuralink has faced allegations of mistreatment of monkeys used in its experiments. However, a 2021 investigation by the Department of Agriculture found no violations of animal research rules, except for a self-reported incident in 2019 where an unapproved sealant was used to close holes drilled into a monkey's skull during surgery.

Neuralink is backed by over 30 investors, including PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel's Founders Fund. Musk, who co-founded Neuralink in 2016, also leads other prominent companies such as Tesla and SpaceX. In 2022, he acquired X, formerly known as Twitter. Musk has previously expressed his intention to receive a Neuralink implant himself.