A man in the United States will never lose his car key again after he spent US$400 (NZ$652) getting it permanently implanted in his hand.
Tesla owner Brandon Dalaly, a tech enthusiast from Detroit, uploaded a video to social media showing him getting a chip implanted in his right hand and then using it to unlock his car, instead of using the key card.
The chip in his hand is contactless and covered in a biocompatible substance. It uses the same near-field communication that makes Apple Pay possible.
"Now I use that as my key when my Bluetooth key fails or I don't have my key card. You just use your hand," Dalaly told Teslarati.
He said he's part of a beta group of about 100 people who are testing the chips before they are released to the public.
This isn't the first chip he's had inserted into his hand. While his right hand can unlock his Tesla, the chip in his left hand holds the door key to his house and stores his contact card, medical information, and similar items. Dalaly said the chip can be scanned with any cell phone which then opens a portal where others can access the information.
"The chips themselves are around $200 to $300 and the install is only about $100 because you can go to a local piercing shop who will agree to do the installation," Dalaly told Detroit Fox 2.
"All the programming and coding putting the apps on the chips - that's all done by me."
But he wants another chip installed, this time to get instant reads on his body.
"It would be inserted near the breast and then you can tap your phone to your chest and instantly get temperature readings," he said.
Dalaly is hoping his Tesla chip gets the attention of Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
