Elon Musk, the owner of the startup Neuralink, announced that the company has successfully implanted a brain chip in its second patient. This device enables paralyzed patients to use digital devices through thought alone.
According to The Guardian, Neuralink is currently testing a device designed to assist individuals with spinal cord injuries. The device has allowed the first implanted patient to engage in gaming, browse the internet, post on social media, and move the cursor on a computer.
The implant device designed to assist individuals with spinal cord injuries. (Image source: ZUMA Press/Alamy).
In a podcast that lasted over 8 hours and was released on August 2, Musk provided very little detail about the second brain chip implant trial patient, other than revealing that this individual has a spinal injury similar to the first patient, who became paralyzed due to a diving accident.
The world’s richest billionaire stated that 400 implanted electrodes in the second patient’s brain are functioning. Neuralink claims on its website that their implant device utilizes 1,024 electrodes.
“Everything seems to be going extremely well with the second implantation. There are a lot of signals, many electrodes. Everything is functioning very well,” Musk told podcast host and computer scientist Lex Fridman.
Musk did not disclose when Neuralink performed the surgery on the second patient. He hopes that Neuralink will provide implant devices to eight more patients this year as part of clinical trials.
The first patient, Noland Arbaugh, 29, was interviewed on the podcast alongside three Neuralink executives, providing insights into how the implant works and the robot-assisted surgery process.
Before receiving the brain chip implant in January, Arbaugh had to use a computer via a stick in his mouth to touch the screen. After receiving the implant, he now only needs to think about what he wants to happen on the computer screen, and Neuralink’s device turns that thought into reality. Arbaugh mentioned that this device has given him a degree of independence and reduced his reliance on caregivers.
Initially, Arbaugh faced issues following the surgery when the tiny wires on his implant contracted, leading to a significant reduction in the number of electrodes capable of detecting brain signals. Reuters reported that Neuralink was aware of this issue from animal trials.
Neuralink stated that they restored Arbaugh’s ability to monitor brain signals by making adjustments, including modifying the algorithm to be more sensitive.
“Arbaugh has improved his previous world record for cursor control using only thought with just about 10 to 15% of the electrodes active,” Musk shared on the podcast.
Billionaire Musk also mentioned that he had spoken with Donald Trump, the presidential candidate he supports, about forming a committee to enhance “government efficiency” by reducing business regulations, and he is willing to participate. Musk expressed his belief that U.S. regulations hinder innovation.
