Elon Musk’s controversial brain implant company Neuralink has secured additional funding, attracting $43 million according to an SEC filing. The recent investment, led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, brings the company’s total funding to over $323 million.
As Neuralink prepares for human trials, it is developing a microchip device designed to monitor brain activity. The company gained FDA approval in May to proceed with human testing, with the first 11 patients selected out of thousands of applicants.
However, Neuralink has faced criticism and scrutiny, particularly in relation to the deaths of monkeys used to test its chips. Reports indicate that monkeys experienced severe health issues and were ultimately euthanized, prompting claims of mistreatment and extreme suffering by an animal rights group.
The controversy surrounding Neuralink has not gone unnoticed, with four members of the House of Representatives calling on the SEC to investigate Elon Musk for potential securities fraud. Despite these challenges, Musk has stood by Neuralink, stating that no monkeys had died as a result of the implant and declaring his vision for the technology’s potential.
Neuralink did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. The company’s ongoing developments and controversies continue to draw significant attention as it pushes the boundaries of brain implant technology.
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