There have been some issues with Neuralink’s brain-computer interface device, or brain chip since it was implanted in its first human patient, the company said in a blog post. Additionally, concerns have arisen regarding the potential long-term effects of this revolutionary technology on human brain function and overall health.

It’s been about eight months since the tech startup owned and co-founded by Elon Musk first announced that the company was seeking participants for its first clinical trial, and about a year since it received FDA approval to start implanting the BCI device in humans. The extensive timeline and regulatory processes involved in developing and testing such groundbreaking technology highlight the complex nature of merging human biology with artificial intelligence.

The idea and ultimate goal of the software is to grant people with paralysis the ability to control a computer cursor or keyboard by thought alone, revolutionizing accessibility for individuals with physical disabilities. However, the ethical implications of such advanced neural interfaces raise questions about privacy, autonomy, and consent in the realm of medical innovation.

The process is said to be going “extremely well” so far, with Neuralink reporting that Noland Arbaugh, the company’s first human participant was able to go home the day after the chip was implanted. However, the rapid pace of technological advancement in the field of neural engineering necessitates ongoing monitoring and assessment of potential risks and benefits for human subjects.