During a live broadcast on X, Neuralink showcased its brain implant technology by demonstrating its use by a 29-year-old individual who has been paralyzed from the shoulders down for the past eight years following a diving incident.
During a short live broadcast on the social media platform X, Noland Arbaugh introduced himself and demonstrated his ability to play online chess and the video game Civilization using the Neuralink device. He remarked, “If you can observe the cursor moving on the screen, that’s my doing,” while manipulating a digital chess piece. He expressed his excitement about the experience, stating, “It’s quite fascinating, isn’t it?”
Neuralink, founded in 2016 by Elon Musk, is pioneering the development of a brain-computer interface system, which interprets movement intentions from brain signals. Initially, the company aims to empower paralyzed individuals to control a cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone.
During the livestream, Arbaugh recounted his experience learning to operate the brain-computer interface. He explained, “I would try to move my right hand in different directions, and then it became natural for me to visualize the cursor moving.” While the livestream provided limited details, a Neuralink engineer mentioned that more information would be disclosed soon.
Arbaugh expressed gratitude for participating in the Neuralink study, describing it as an incredible opportunity. The company received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration last year to commence an initial human trial and began recruiting paralyzed individuals in autumn to evaluate the device’s efficacy.
Neuralink has shared minimal information regarding the trial’s progress. Musk announced on X in January that the first human participant had received the implant and was recovering well. In February, Musk revealed that the individual had fully recovered and could control a computer mouse using their thoughts.
The implant, inserted into the brain using a surgical robot, is imperceptible once in place. Neuralink has developed software that interprets brain signals and translates them into commands to control external devices.
However, Neuralink has faced criticism for its lack of transparency regarding the trial. Details about the study are primarily gleaned from social media posts and a brief brochure released by the company. Neuralink has not disclosed the number of participants, the trial location, or the assessed outcomes. Additionally, the company has not registered the trial on ClinicalTrials.gov, raising concerns about transparency.
Arbaugh addressed safety concerns surrounding the device, stating that the surgery was straightforward, and he experienced no cognitive impairments afterward.
Several companies are competing to commercialize brain-computer interfaces. One competitor, Synchron, has developed a stent-like device inserted into the jugular vein, enabling paralyzed individuals to browse the internet. However, no brain-computer interface has received FDA approval yet, as they are still in the experimental stage.