First Neuralink patient live-streamed playing chess with his mind
- Neuralink is a neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk
- The goal is to help people with limited mobility
- Neuralink is currently conducting its first trials on a human patient
Published on Mar 21, 2024 at 5:20 AM (UTC-4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Mar 21, 2024 at 12:13 PM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The first Neuralink patient has shared the results of the experiment so far.
It’s fair to say it’s going pretty well.
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A while back, Elon Musk announced Neuralink would finally begin conducting the first human trials after receiving approval from the FDA, and after successfully testing the brain chips on monkeys.
As a quick recap, Neuralink is a neurotechnology company founded by Elon Musk, whose goal is to develop implantable brain–computer interfaces that people with limited mobility can use.
Back in January, Musk said they’d found the volunteer they were looking for, that they had successfully implanted a device in a human, and that the patient was recovering.
Now we know who that person is, and that the trial has been successful so far.
The company shared a nine-minute video in which the patient introduces himself as Noland Arbaugh, 29, and says he’s paralyzed from the shoulder down after a driving accident.
In the clip, Mr Arbaugh shows how he can control a computer using his thoughts.
You can see him play chess and turn music on and off, among other things.
Musk said that the aim of the brain chip is to eventually allow patients to communicate normally regardless of their physical condition.
He also said it can help with obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia.
“The surgery was super easy,” Mr Arbaugh said in the video.
“I literally was [sic] released from the hospital a day later. I have no cognitive impairments.”
Arbaugh further added he’d given up playing video games after his accident, but can now do that again.
“I don’t want people to think that this is the end of the journey, there’s still a lot of work to be done, but it has already changed my life,” he concluded
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
