- Legislators in the United States are pushing for a probe into Neuralink, a brain-computer interface (BCI) business created by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, for its treatment of animals during research.
- Neuralink has been developing a chip implant that would allow humans to operate computers with their minds, and the business has tested the technique on animals such as pigs and monkeys.
- According to a research by the non-profit animal rights organisation White Coat Waste Project, Neuralink has done intrusive surgeries on animals, such as implanting electrodes in their brains, and has been secretive about its animal testing techniques.
- Lawmakers have asked the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate whether Neuralink is following animal welfare standards and doing unneeded or unethical animal studies.
- Neuralink has not reacted to inquiries about the matter.
- Animal usage in scientific research is a difficult issue, with many individuals and organisations advocating for greater transparency and ethical treatment of laboratory animals.
- The dispute over animal testing raises critical questions regarding the ethics and governance of developing technologies like as BCI, as well as the responsibility of government in regulating research that has far-reaching ramifications for human health and society in general.
- The inquiry into Neuralink is still underway, and it is unclear what, if any, actions will be made in response to the MPs' concerns.
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