Elon Musk has recently shared an incredible video showcasing the groundbreaking capabilities of the Neuralink brain chip. In the footage, we witness a person effortlessly controlling a computer cursor and playing video games using only their thoughts.
In a remarkable video shared on X, Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old man who is paralyzed from the waist down, astounded viewers as he skillfully played a game of chess using only his thoughts.
Do you notice the cursor on the screen? “That’s all me… it’s all brainpower,” he said confidently from his wheelchair. In the clip, Arbaugh mentioned that he experienced a diving accident eight years ago, which unfortunately resulted in him being paralyzed from the shoulders down.
The use of this technology by the man from Arizona is truly remarkable, and it further supports the experts’ belief that it has the potential to revolutionize care for the disabled.
Arbaugh was filled with joy throughout the clip, proudly demonstrating the mouse moving back and forth across the online chess board while being filmed by an engineer.
Seemingly perplexed by the inner workings of the groundbreaking technology, Arbaugh drew a comparison between moving the mouse around the screen and harnessing ‘The Force’ from Star Wars.
‘I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of this. Every day, it seems like we’re constantly learning new things,’ he said.
A month ago, Musk made an exciting announcement about the successful implantation of the chip in a person. He mentioned that he was able to control the movement of a mouse on the screen using only his thoughts.
‘Progress is excellent and the patient appears to have made a complete recovery, with neural effects that we are aware of,’ Musk stated during a Spaces event on X.
On Wednesday, Elon shared Arbaugh’s clip where he showcased the use of ‘telepathy’. The caption read: ‘Witness Neuralink’s live demonstration of ‘Telepathy’ – effortlessly controlling a computer and playing video games using only the power of thought.’
Neuralink’s technology involves the use of a robot to carefully implant a brain-computer interface in a specific area of the brain responsible for controlling movement.
The system is composed of a computer chip that is connected to small, flexible threads that are carefully inserted into the brain using a robot that operates in a manner similar to a sewing machine.
During the procedure, a sewing robot carefully removes a small portion of the skull, attaches thread-like electrodes to specific regions of the brain, and then stitches up the incision. The resulting scar is barely noticeable, thanks to the tiny size of the cut.
Musk mentioned that the fitting procedure can be completed in a mere 30 minutes, without the need for general anesthesia. Patients can conveniently return home on the same day.
Arbaugh, a former Corps of Cadets member at Texas A&M, described the surgery as a straightforward procedure and reassured others that there was no need to be fearful.
The 29-year-old experienced a life-altering injury while working at a children’s camp in Texas in 2016. Since then, he has been living with a complete loss of sensation from below his shoulders.
He mentioned that prior to his injury, he had a strong passion for playing chess. He expressed gratitude for the support that allowed him to continue pursuing this interest. I haven’t been very productive in the past few years.
According to a GoFundMe post made 11 months after his accident, it was mentioned that Arbaugh had been facing challenges with his mobility.
Noland relies on a large electric wheelchair that he must bring along wherever he goes. “The wheelchair, combined with his condition, makes traveling anywhere a real struggle,” the fundraiser explained.
Arbaugh was accompanied in the clip by a Neuralink engineer, who inquired about the patient’s ability to control a computer mouse using telepathy.
“So we began by experimenting with a few different approaches,” he stated. We transitioned from what we referred to as ‘imagined movement’ to ‘attempted movement’, initially focusing on our efforts to move.
He explained that he had to consider the movement of his computer cursor, going left and right. Eventually, he found that it became second nature to him.
Describing the technology with a touch of whimsy, Arbaugh compared it to harnessing ‘The Force’ from Star Wars. He explained that he learned to navigate the cursor by simply fixing his gaze on a specific spot on the screen.
Recalling the initial success, he exclaimed, “It would effortlessly glide to my desired location. The sensation was exhilarating… it’s truly mind-boggling, absolutely mind-boggling.”
He mentioned that one of his preferred features of having the implant is the ability to play video games. He confessed that once he got the hang of it, he only paused playing when the implant needed to be recharged.
Expressing his enthusiasm for Halloween, he mentioned his intention to dress up as Professor X from X-Men for the upcoming October festivities. Professor X is a paraplegic mutant with the ability to move objects using telepathy.
Although praised by many as an impressive achievement in medical engineering, Neuralink, created by Musk, has faced its fair share of controversies.
Last month, DailyMail.com provided an exclusive report on the company’s animal testing practices. The testing involves drilling holes into the heads of monkeys and filling them with glue.
According to recently uncovered documents, monkeys underwent multiple skull surgeries before being euthanized.
Reports on the deaths of monkeys indicate that they underwent limb amputations and were euthanized due to persistent vomiting and episodes of diarrhea.
In its testing of the technology, Neuralink has unfortunately resulted in the loss of at least 1,500 animals, including sheep and pigs. Elon Musk has expressed his desire for this technology to be widely adopted by humans in the near future.
At the conclusion of the demonstration clip, Arbaugh acknowledged that his Neuralink implant had encountered some issues and was not flawless.
“I want to emphasize that this is not the end of the journey. There is still a significant amount of work that needs to be accomplished,” he stated.
‘However, it has already had a profound impact on my life. I strongly encourage those considering applying for the human trials or seeking ways to contribute to this cause to take action and do their part.’
I got into it because I genuinely wanted to help. I aspire to contribute to a cause that has the potential to make a significant impact on the world.
