Neuralink Shows First Patient Playing Chess Using Signals From Brain Implant
Neuralink, the brain-chip startup founded by Elon Musk in 2016, streamed a live video on Wednesday with its first brain implant patient. The video shows the patient, who is paralyzed below his shoulders, playing online chess using his mind.
Noland Arbaugh, the 29-year-old patient, was seen in the viral video using his computer to play chess and the game Civilization VI. Noland Arbaugh appears to move a cursor across the laptop screen with nothing but his thoughts. It is worth mentioning that he is the first human patient to ever get implanted with Neuralink’s device. The device that is implanted aims to enable people to control a keyboard or computer cursor using only their thoughts.
— Neuralink (@neuralink) March 20, 2024
In the video, which was streamed on X, Noland Arbaugh said that he became paralysed below the shoulder after a diving accident around eight years ago. Referring to the implant procedure, Arbaugh said that the surgery was “super easy” and added that he was released from the hospital a day later. According to a CNBC report, this crucial surgery requires patients to remove a portion of their skull to insert electrodes into the brain tissue.
At the same time, the Neuralink patient also said, “It’s not perfect. I would say that we have run into some issues,” referring to the technology. During the livestream, he also said that he does not want people to think that this is the end of the journey. Noland Arbaugh also added that there is a “lot of work to be done.”
Livestream of @Neuralink demonstrating “Telepathy” – controlling a computer and playing video games just by thinking https://t.co/0kHJdayfYy
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 20, 2024
Billionaire Elon Musk also reposted the video. “Livestream of @Neuralink demonstrating “Telepathy” – controlling a computer and playing video games just by thinking,” wrote Musk while sharing the video. On January 30, Elon Musk announced that the first human patient had received the brain implant from Neuralink. On that occasion, the Tesla chief also said that the patient was recovering well.
