Neuralink posts video of first brain implant patient moving cursor to play chess

Elon Musk’s Neuralink made headlines Wednesday, March 20, with a live video on X demonstrating its brain implant technology. The video featured 29-year-old Nolan Arbaugh, who has been paralyzed from the shoulders down for around eight years following a diving accident, using the device to move a mouse cursor solely through neural signals.

During the livestream, viewers witnessed Arbaugh controlling the cursor to play chess, an activity he described as being powered “all by brain power.” He likened the experience to “using the force,” a nod to the “Star Wars” series.

“It’s not perfect, I would say that we have run into some issues,” Arbaugh said. “I don’t want people to think that this is the end of the journey, there’s still a lot of work to be done, but it has already changed my life.”

Arbaugh also mentioned that the implant has enabled him to play a video game, showcasing the device’s potential to restore a level of independence to individuals with severe mobility impairments.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) greenlit Neuralink for a clinical trial of its device in humans last May, marking a significant step forward for the company. While experts in the field note that the brain-computer interface (BCI) technology demonstrated by Neuralink is not entirely new — similar systems have been developed by other companies — the excitement surrounding Neuralink’s progress stems from its potential to significantly improve the lives of people who have become paralyzed.

The specifics of Neuralink’s trial, including the number of participants and the trial’s goals, remain unclear. The company must undergo multiple phases of safety and effectiveness tests before receiving the final approval from the FDA to launch its product.