Neuralink, the brain-computer interface company founded by tech billionaire Elon Musk, has made headlines once again with the release of a video showcasing the first human patient using their brain implant technology. The patient, Noland Arbaugh, who was paralyzed below the shoulders in a diving accident, is seen controlling a mouse cursor and playing chess with the help of the Neuralink implant.
Arbaugh described the experience as similar to the Force from Star Wars, while Musk himself took to Twitter to call it “telepathy.” Arbaugh also revealed that the implant allowed him to play the popular video game Civilization VI for an impressive 8 hours straight.
The FDA had granted Neuralink permission to conduct in-human clinical trials last year, with a 6-year trial seeking test subjects currently underway. This video marks the first time Neuralink has shown a human using their brain implant technology, following an earlier video of a monkey utilizing the same technology.
While the concept of brain-computer interface technology is not entirely new, Neuralink’s wireless transmission and conversation-holding abilities have garnered attention. Other companies are also working on developing brain implants to compete with Neuralink.
However, Neuralink has faced criticism for its lack of transparency in trials and its controversial experiments on monkeys in the past. Despite this, Musk envisions a future where the technology could be implanted into healthy individuals for enhanced capabilities.
As Neuralink continues to push the boundaries of brain implant technology, the possibilities for the future of human-computer interaction are seemingly endless. Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking technology on Insider Wales Sport.
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