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Yesterday, one individual equipped with a Neuralink brain implant engaged in a livestream on X (formerly referred to as Twitter), utilizing the gadget to engage in an online game of chess.
In May 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Neuralink authorization to conduct human trials for its technology after conducting testing on monkeys and a pig named Gertrude. This decision was met with controversy. The business made an announcement in January 2024, stating that they had successfully implanted a chip inside a human being for the first time.
In late February 2024, Elon Musk, the inventor of Neuralink, provided an update regarding the ongoing human trial of their brain implant technology. Musk asserted that the recipient of the device now had the capability to manipulate a cursor on a screen through mental control.
According to Reuters, Elon Musk stated in the report that there has been positive progress and the patient appears to have achieved complete recovery, with identifiable brain effects. The patient demonstrates the ability to manipulate a mouse only through cognitive processes.
During a live demonstration on Wednesday, the individual, identified as 29-year-old Noland Arbaugh, demonstrated his ability to effortlessly manipulate the cursor while playing a game of chess.
According to Arbaugh, an individual who experienced paralysis below the shoulders as a result of a vehicle accident, the surgical procedure yielded positive outcomes. Subsequently, with some initial instruction on the device, Arbaugh demonstrated proficiency in utilizing it for cursor movement on the screen and even employed it for gameplay in the video game Civilization VI.
“We initially experimented with several different approaches.” We transitioned from distinguishing between imagined movement and attempted movement. A significant portion of our initial endeavors involved efforts to relocate. During the presentation, he expressed his intention to move his right hand from left to right and backwards. Subsequently, it became instinctive for me to begin envisioning the cursor’s motion. The experience can be likened to the utilization of the Force on a cursor. I was able to manipulate the movement of the object by directing my gaze towards a certain location on the screen, resulting in a highly exhilarating encounter.
He had been unable to independently play games, depending on friends and family members to manage the devices he desired to utilize. Once the Neuralink device is charged, he gains the capability to engage in extensive gaming activities. “And I am physically kicking,” he continued.
The gadget and other brain-computer interfaces are highly promising, as they have the capacity to enhance the quality of life for individuals suffering from paralysis. Nevertheless, this represents the initial human experimentation with Neuralink’s gadget, and there remains a considerable distance to cover.
“It is not flawless.” “We have encountered certain difficulties,” stated Arbaugh. “I want people to understand that this is not the conclusion of the journey; there is still a significant amount of work that needs to be accomplished.” However, it has already profoundly altered my life.
