Elon Musk unveils first successful human-patient experience with Neuralink brain chip

Elon Musk posted a video on X from his computer-brain interface firm Neuralink showcasing the ‘first-ever’ human recipient of its brain implant. Noland Arbaugh, the first human patient to be implanted with a brain chip from Neuralink, the Elon Musk startup, has apparently made a full recovery and can move a computer mouse with his mind. Arbaugh, a quadriplegic paralysed from the shoulders down after a diving accident, was able to play video games using his thoughts, experiencing a significant improvement in his life.

He praised the instant he began to gain some mind control, commenting that it was ‘like using The Force on a cursor, and I could get it to move wherever I wanted.’ Arbaugh also acknowledged a few hiccups with the brain chip in his head.

Why does it matter?

Neuralink’s ultimate goal is to create brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that will allow humans to communicate with each other and improve their ability to learn and remember new information.
Elon Musk also believes Neuralink will enable rapid surgical insertions of its chip devices to treat autism, depression, obesity, and schizophrenia.

Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised human trials for Neuralink’s BCI technology in May and cleared it for human trial recruitment in September. On top of Musk’s Neuralink, Synchron, another brain implant company backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, reported that its BCI device had been placed in the first six patients in September. Neuralink has been criticised over its safety protocols. In late January, Reuters reported that the company received a fine for breaking US Department of Transportation regulations governing the transfer of hazardous commodities.