The startup is now seeking U.S. Food and Drug Administration license to start performing surgeries on humans. Bloomberg reported that the first person will be equipped with an innovative chip by the end of 2020. 

Neuralink’s technology implies drilling micro holes into the brain to embed threads connected to a small processor, which, in its turn, will be linked to a smartphone via Bluetooth. According to Musk, there will be an app store where users could purchase different programs working with Neuralink chips.

In 2018, Neuralink conducted animal tests of its technology on rats. The New York Times reportedly saw the footage of a computer receiving information from a chip in rat’s brain. Musk also revealed that Neuralink tested the technology on monkeys. “A monkey has been able to control the computer with his brain,” he told reporters.

Neuralink was first announced by Elon Musk in 2017. Initially, he claimed that the startup would merge the human brain with AI and help people with brain disorders, such as Parkinson and epilepsy. The company is Musk’s fourth major project in a decade.

Musk invested $100 million in Neuralink as a co-founder.