Senior Mechanical Engineer, Neuralink

For many, brain implants such as those being developed by Neuralink belong firmly in the realm of sci-fi. That said, the idea of interfacing machines with the brain for medical purposes has existed for some time, with examples including cochlear implants and Deep Brain Stimulation. Having secured FDA approval, Neuralink is now able to move ahead with human trials - a significant step in its ambitious proposals becoming a reality.

The approval seems to have made the company more appealing to investors, and Neuralink has since raised considerable funds towards advancing its research. It should be noted, though, that despite this positive attention, much discussion surrounding the company regards its animal testing practices which - some sources say - may have resulted in more animal deaths than necessary as staff were pressured to push for the FDA approval. Despite the ethical debate surrounding Neuralink's practices, 2024 saw Elon Musk, the CEO of Neuralink, announce that the first Brain-computer-interface (BCI) patient can successfully move a mouse around a computer screen just by thinking.