Neuralink, Elon Musk’s neural technology venture, unveiled during a live broadcast that its inaugural human recipient of a brain-chip implant is Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old individual who became quadriplegic following a diving accident eight years ago.
Arbaugh, featured alongside Bliss Chapman, a Neuralink engineer, expressed that while the chip isn’t flawless, it has significantly enhanced his life, granting him prolonged engagement in video games without reliance on caregivers.
The company, established in 2016, aims to empower individuals to control computers via brain signals.
Musk initially disclosed in January the milestone of implanting a chip into a human after years of primate testing.
While these experiments faced scrutiny from groups like the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, alleging mistreatment of animals, Neuralink has progressed to human trials.
During the livestream, Arbaugh demonstrated his ability to play chess using only brain signals, highlighting the transformative impact of the technology on his quality of life.
