Neuralink, the brainchild of tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, has experienced a setback in its pioneering brain chip technology. The company made headlines when it successfully implanted the first invasive brain chip into a human subject, but recently disclosed a malfunction in the groundbreaking device.

In a blog post on Wednesday, Neuralink revealed that the incident involved threads designed to surveil neurons becoming dislodged from the participant's brain. Details regarding the cause and extent of the malfunction remain unclear, as the company has not clarified the number of affected threads or commented on potential safety hazards.

While Neuralink has remained silent on the issue, Musk took to social media to criticize mainstream media for their coverage of the malfunction. He characterized the articles as examples of "just how much the legacy media lies to the public."

The malfunction began in late February and disrupted the flow of data from the brain implant. However, Neuralink claims to have partially mitigated the issue by adjusting its algorithm. The implant, consisting of 64 flexible threads with a total of 1,024 electrodes, aims to detect neuronal activity. These threads, thinner than human hair, are strategically placed near target neurons to translate detected signals into desired actions.

The initial recipient of the implant, Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old paralyzed due to a diving accident in 2016, initially showcased promising results. Arbaugh demonstrated remarkable abilities, such as playing video games using only the implant. However, concerns arose during an internal Neuralink meeting, where Arbaugh hinted at ongoing challenges. Reports later surfaced, indicating displaced threads within Arbaugh's brain.

Speculation regarding the cause of the malfunction includes the possibility of trapped air introduced during the surgery, known as pneumocephalus. Although Arbaugh's safety has not been compromised, the malfunction has resulted in a decrease in the implant's performance. Neuralink, however, claims to have restored the performance by refining its decoding algorithm.

Neuralink has been in communication with the FDA about this issue, assuring the regulatory body of potential solutions. The company intends to proceed with further implantations in the coming months.

This setback has raised questions about the future of Neuralink's brain chip technology and the challenges it may face in achieving its ultimate goal of revolutionizing human-computer interaction.