Neuralink has successfully implanted its brain chip in a second patient, marking a significant step in its clinical trials, according to CEO Elon Musk. In an interview last week, Musk stated that the procedure has “gone extremely well.”
“I don’t want to jinx it, but it seems to have gone extremely well with the second implant,” the tech billionaire and one of the richest men on the planet told popular US podcast host Lex Fridman. “There’s a lot of signal, a lot of electrodes. It’s working very well.”
The Neuralink brain implant is designed to help paralyzed individuals control digital devices using only their thoughts. The first patient, Noland Arbaugh, has already demonstrated the implant’s capabilities by playing video games, browsing the internet, and moving a cursor on a laptop with his thoughts.
Elon Musk: If it’s extremely safe, and you can have superhuman abilities, I think a lot of people would choose to have a Neuralink. pic.twitter.com/pqVr7lPyz5— ELON DOCS (@elon_docs) August 4, 2024
The second patient, who suffered a spinal cord injury from a diving accident, now has 400 out of 1,024 electrodes on their implant functioning effectively. In the Fridman interview, Musk noted, “There’s a lot of signal, a lot of electrodes. It’s working very well.” Neuralink plans to extend its trials in 2024, with expectations to provide implants to eight more patients.
Musk highlighted that Noland Arbaugh experienced some initial issues with the implant’s tiny wires but has seen significant improvements. Despite the challenges, Arbaugh has surpassed his previous record for cursor control with only a portion of the electrodes operational.
Elon Musk: unless we upgrade ourselves with Neuralink, AI will think so fast compared to us, it will get bored because communicating with us will be like talking to a tree pic.twitter.com/7iYm2KSJxo— Tsarathustra (@tsarnick) August 2, 2024
Before Arbaugh received his implant in January, he used a computer by employing a stick in his mouth to tap the screen of a tablet device. Arbaugh said with the implant he now can merely think about what he wants to happen on the computer screen, and the device makes it happen.
He said the device has given him a modicum of independence and reduced his reliance on caregivers. Neuralink has said it restored the implant’s ability to monitor Arbaugh’s brain signals by making changes that included modifying its algorithm to be more sensitive.
(With agency inputs)
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