Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, founded the neurotechnology company Neuralink. The company has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully implanting a computer chip in its first patient’s brain. This innovation has allowed the patient to play various games, including chess, using only his thoughts for the past year.
On Sunday, the BBC reported on the progress of Noland Arbaugh, the first recipient of Neuralink’s pioneering brain-computer interface (BCI) procedure.
Last January, eight years after a diving accident left him paralyzed from the shoulders down, Arbaugh became the first to receive Neuralink’s brain-computer interface (BCI) device, called Telepathy—this marked Neuralink’s first-ever brain implant procedure.
Two months later, Neuralink released footage showing Arbaugh using only his thoughts to control a laptop’s mouse cursor and play chess, all while seated in his wheelchair with his limbs completely motionless.
The BCI device, implanted into Arbaugh’s skull, works by exchanging signals with neurons through a series of fine electrodes, allowing him to control the computer.
One year post-surgery, Arbaugh reports significant improvements in his ability to use the device.
Arbaugh shared that he has rediscovered games he had to give up after his accident. He noted that he could now even beat his friends, which he described miraculous. He hoped that future device versions could enable him to control wheelchairs and even humanoid robots.
Arbaugh reflected on his conversations with Musk, noting that Musk seemed just as excited about the possibilities as he was.
While Arbaugh has agreed to participate in Neuralink’s experiments for six years, the long-term effects of this technology are still unknown. Ethical concerns have also emerged regarding the potential for these devices to infringe on personal privacy.