SAN FRANCISCO: Elon Musk said on Tuesday his Neuralink startup had installed a brain implant in its first human patient with `promising` initial results.

The neuro technology company co-founded by Musk in 2016 aims to build direct communication channels between the brain and computers.

The ambition is to supercharge human capabilities, treat neurological disorders like ALS or Parkinson`s, and maybe one day achieve a symbiotic relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.

`The first human received an implant from Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well,` Musk said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

`Initial results show promising neuron spike detection,` he added.

The startup last year said it won approval from US regulators to test its brain implants in people.

Neuralink`s technology will mainly work through an implant called the `Link` a device about the size of five stacked coins that is placed inside the human brain through invasive surgery.

According to data company Pitchbook, last year California-based Neuralink had more than 400 employees and has raised at least $363 million.

Though he wins most of the headlines, Musk is hardly alone in trying to make advances in the field, which is officially known as brain-machine or brain-computer interface research.

Hit with delays, the tycoon had reportedly reached out to join forces with implant developer Synchron about a potentialinvestment.-AFP