Exclusive: Musk’s Neuralink faces federal probe, employee backlash over animal tests | Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/technology/musks-neuralink-faces-federal-probe-employee-backlash-over-animal-tests-2022-12-05/Neuralink, a medical device company, is under federal investigation for potential animal-welfare violations amid internal staff complaints that its animal testing is being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths
pressure from CEO Musk to accelerate development has resulted in botched experiments, according to a Reuters review of dozens of Neuralink documents and interviews with more than 20 current and former employees.
The total number of animal deaths does not necessarily indicate that Neuralink is violating regulations or standard research practices.
current and former Neuralink employees say the number of animal deaths is higher than it needs to be for reasons related to Musk’s demands to speed research.
Reuters identified four experiments involving 86 pigs and two monkeys that were marred in recent years by human errors.
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In some ways, Neuralink treats animals quite well compared to other research facilities, employees said in interviews, echoing public statements by Musk and other executives.