Elon Musk's Neuralink makes history with life-changing brain implant
It's been just a few weeks since Elon Musk announced the debut patient for a groundbreaking brain implant developed by Neuralink. A video recently surfaced on the X platform showcasing the remarkable progress of the 29-year-old patient. The patient feels fortunate.
This surgery has made history. At the end of January, the patient received a brain implant courtesy of Neuralink, a venture initiated by Elon Musk. Less than a month later, the tycoon confirmed that the patient had fully recuperated from the operation.
"Progress is promising, and it seems that the patient has completely recovered without any side effects known to us," Musk remarked, as reported by Reuters Agency. "The patient can now move the mouse across the screen by merely thinking," he added.
"I feel fortunate"
The new footage on the X platform demonstrates that Musk's earlier statements weren’t exaggerations—the patient with the brain implant is in splendid condition. 29-year-old Nolan Arwall, joined by a Neuralink engineer, was featured in the live broadcast.
From the video, we learn that eight years prior, the young man suffered a diving accident. This resulted in a spinal injury, leading to quadriplegia. He is immobilised from the arms down.
The implant insertion has transformed the life of the 29-year-old. Thanks to the procedure, he has been able to pursue his passions, learn Japanese and French, and play online chess.
He pointed out that until recently, he had resigned to his inability to engage in his preferred pastimes and relied on his parents for assistance. However, he now joyfully admits to forgoing sleep the entire night to play Civilization 6. "I can just lie in bed and play endlessly," he exclaimed delightfully.
"...we began with attempts to 'move' my right hand in various directions, and it all started to become intuitive to me. I imagined moving the cursor. Effectively, it was akin to wielding power over the cursor because I could move it anywhere I desired, simply by looking at the screen," the 29-year-old described. "Initially, it was an astounding experience. It's incredible. I feel so fortunate to be part of this project. We're discovering new things daily, and words fail me when trying to express how amazing it is to be able to do this," Nolan added.
The individual acknowledges that the system isn't flawless, yet, he encourages others to participate in Neuralink's research.
"I aspired to be part of something I believe will revolutionize the world. The surgery was remarkably straightforward. In fact, I was discharged from the hospital the very next day. I haven't experienced any cognitive impairments, at least none that the surgery induced. I just find it truly astonishing and wish to extend my gratitude to Neuralink and their relentless efforts to turn this into reality," the 29-year-old said.
The company, spearheaded by Musk, aims to assist individuals with neurological conditions through innovative technology. One of its primary objectives is to develop implants that enable direct interaction with digital devices through thought.
