China unveils monkey controlled robotic arm with brain chip

A Chinese company, Beijing Xinzhida Neurotechnology, has revealed a brain chip that allows a monkey to remotely control a robotic arm with its thoughts, showcasing potential competition to Elon Musk's Neuralink venture.

At a technology convention in Beijing, the company showcased its NeuCyber Array BMI (brain-machine interface) System, backed by the Chinese government. In a demonstration, a monkey implanted with the chip was seen using the robotic arm to pick up a strawberry, indicating the device's capability to decode brain signals into actions.

While the technology holds promise for medical applications, concerns have been raised about the ethics and safety of such experiments. Neuralink, a similar venture by Elon Musk, has faced criticism for its treatment of test animals, with former employees alleging mistreatment leading to deaths. Additionally, Neuralink's human trials have raised questions about regulatory oversight.