Elon Musk’s Neuralink, a medical device company, is being investigated by the federal government for potential violations of animal welfare policies. However, following complaints that animal testing is being rushed to achieve results after missing several deadlines.
This comes just days after the world’s richest man stated that he is fine with implanting a Neuralink brain chip in himself. Neuralink Corp. is working on a brain implant that it hopes will allow paralysed people to walk again as well as cure other neurological ailments.
Elon Musk recently took to to express how happy the animals at Neuralink were, in response to a video showing a monkey interacting “telepathically” with a screen.
A Neuralink-trained monkey doing Telepathic Typing, using just his mind ?? @elonmuskpic.twitter.com/PUkFA9qpUi
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) December 1, 2022
Over 1500 animals were killed at Neurolink
According to records reviewed by Reuters, the company has killed approximately 1,500 animals, including more than 280 sheep, pigs, rats, mice, and monkeys, as a result of experiments since 2018. This figure is a rough estimate because the company does not keep accurate records on the number of animals tested and killed.
Exclusive: U.S. law enforcement is investigating Elon Musk’s Neuralink, a medical device company, for potential violations of animal-welfare laws as staff raise alarms about the company’s animal tests https://t.co/fcKNcaov4z@rachael_levy@specialreportspic.twitter.com/WtqbbiI9DY
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 5, 2022
The total number of animal deaths does not necessarily imply that Neuralink is breaking any laws or following standard research procedures. Many companies routinely use animals in experiments to advance human health care, and they are under financial pressure to bring products to market as soon as possible. When the experiments are finished, the animals are usually killed so that they can be examined post-mortem for research purposes.
Is it due to Neurolink’s hectic schedule?
However, in this case, several Neuralink employees have stated that the number of animal deaths is higher than necessary due to Elon Musk’s demands to “speed up research.”
According to Reuters, Neuralink’s tight schedule can induce employees to take unnecessary risks, which makes life challenging for the animals.
After his outward leadership as the new owner of Twitter, it is not surprising how Musk conducts himself. Musk has repeatedly told Neuralink staff members that they should pick up the pace, putting more animals in danger. He is aggressive and authoritative.
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- Elon Musk
- Neurolink
