Paralyzed man moves objects with his mind using Elon Musk’s Neuralink chip

Noland Arbaugh, a 30-year-old man from Yuma, Arizona, has become the first human recipient of Tesla chief Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain implant, a technology that allows him to control a computer using only his thoughts.

Paralyzed in a swimming accident at the age of 22 in June 2016, Arbaugh had been dependent on others for daily tasks and struggled with limited computer access through mouth-controlled devices.

Arbaugh applied for Neuralink’s first human trial and had surgery in January 2024 to have the coin-sized N1 chip implanted in his brain. The chip, equipped with 1,024 electrodes, reads electrical signals from the brain and translates those thoughts into computer commands.

The technology, a form of brain-computer interface (BCI), works by detecting the electrical impulses produced by neurons when someone thinks about moving.

Although Arbaugh initially struggled to control the cursor, within two weeks, he could direct it with only his thoughts, imagining the movements of his hand.

Arbaugh told The Guardian that the technology feels so natural to him. He showed this by playing chess, browsing the internet, and playing video games, all while his hands remained motionless in his wheelchair.

However, his journey has been difficult. Engineers found that 85 per cent of the implant’s threads had retracted due to the brain’s natural pulsing movements, but instead of performing another surgery, Neuralink adapted the software to read groups of neuron signals.

Musk’s Vision For A Mind-Machine Connection

In 2016, while traveling in a car with his chief of staff, Sam Teller, Elon Musk got frustrated with the slow pace of typing on his iPhone. This irritation sparked a new idea in Musk’s mind: what if there was a way to directly connect the brain to technology?

He envisioned a high-speed interface, which allows thoughts to be transmitted straight into machines. Musk immediately asked Teller to find a neuroscientist who could help him explore the possibilities of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).

However, the technology has sparked discussions about privacy and the potential risks of having devices access brain activity.