Neuralink, the experimental brain chip company run by billionaire Elon Musk, has launched a clinical trial at a hospital in Toronto, Canada.
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Two paralyzed quadriplegic Canadians have received Neuralink brain implants as part of a study testing the safety and effectiveness of the wireless devices. It is the first clinical trial outside of the U.S. to test Neuralink’s brain implants. The trial is in the process of recruiting six additional participants who have either been paralyzed by a spinal cord injury or have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, known as ALS.
In the clinical trial, ultra-thin electrode threads have been implanted into the brains of the two patients. Within minutes, they were able to translate neural signals into actions, controlling a computer cursor with their thoughts, according to reports from Toronto Western Hospital, site of the trial. The first American patient received a Neuralink brain implant in the U.S. in 2024.
Controversy
Despite the potential benefits of the clinical trial, the fact that privately held Neuralink is run by Elon Musk, who is also the CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla (TSLA), has caused controversy. Some doctors have raised concerns about a Toronto hospital’s partnership with a company run by Musk.
Musk has drawn criticism in Canada, not only for his work with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, but also for disparaging America’s northern neighbor. Earlier this year, Musk said that Canada is “not a real country” and should be taken over by the U.S. The irony being that Musk himself is a Canadian citizen, having spent much of his childhood in Canada, where he also attended university.
Is TSLA Stock a Buy?
As Neuralink is not publicly traded, we’ll look at Tesla’s stock instead. As one can see below, TSLA shares have a consensus Hold rating among 34 Wall Street analysts. That rating is based on 14 Buy, 13 Hold, and seven Sell recommendations issued in the last three months. The average TSLA price target of $313.62 implies 23.51% downside risk from current levels.
