Elon Musk has reportedly approached brain chip implant company Synchron Inc about a prospective investment as his own company Neuralink strives to catch up in the race to connect the human brain to technology, according to four persons with intimate knowledge of the matter.
The sources claim that Musk recently got in touch with Thomas Oxley, the CEO and creator of Synchron, to talk about a potential merger. It’s unclear if any deal would involve a partnership or other form of affiliation between Synchron and Neuralink.
In the race to obtain regulatory approval for its products, Synchron, which has its headquarters in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of New York City, is in front of Neuralink. The sources requested anonymity because the topic is sensitive.Requests for response from Musk and Neuralink representatives went unanswered. A spokeswoman for Synchron declined to comment.
The move was made after Musk, who also serves as the CEO of SpaceX and the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, complained to Neuralink staff members about their poor development, according to four current and former employees. Two of the sources also said that when Musk contacted Oxley, he did not express his frustration to him.
