Elon Musk says the first human with Neuralink implant is now able to control a mouse with his mind

Elon Musk says the first human with Neuralink implant is now able to control a mouse with his mind

In a recent update on one of his most ambitious projects, Neuralink, Elon Musk announced positive results from their first human trial. Musk revealed that the first patient who received the neuralink brain chip implant last month is fully recovered and can now control a computer mouse using their thoughts.

“Progress was good, and the patient had made a full recovery, with no adverse neural effects that we were aware of. The patient was able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking,” Musk said in a Spaces event on social media platform X, reports Reuters.

While the company is celebrating its initial success, Musk has revealed that Neuralink has bigger goals. The next step is to enable more complex interactions, such as controlling mouse buttons with the patient’s thoughts.

Earlier, in January, Elon Musk announced Neuralink, the successful implantation of a chip in its first human patient. The company had obtained the approval for human trial recruitment in September, marking a pivotal moment for the venture.

While the patient’s details remain undisclosed by Musk, Neuralink’s announcement in September stated that the target demographic for recruitment was individuals suffering from quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

In this study, Neuralink is using a robot to surgically place a brain-computer interface implant in a region of the brain that controls the intention to move. According to the company, their initial goal is to enable people to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts.

For Musk, Neuralink is his grand ambition that aims to facilitate speedy surgical insertions of its chip devices to treat conditions like obesity, autism, depression, and schizophrenia.

What is Neuralink

Founded by Elon Musk in 2016, Neuralink is a neurotechnology company aiming to create a seamless brain-computer interface (BCI) called “the Link.” This technology focuses on helping individuals with neurological conditions or traumatic injuries regain control of electronic devices using their thoughts alone.

The device i.e “The Link”  itself is a coin-sized, surgically implanted chip with ultra-thin wires connecting it directly to specific brain regions involved in movement intentions. Essentially, it aims to decode and stimulate neural activity, translating thought into action.

Neuralink’s initial product, “Telepathy”, aims to enable users to control phones and computers directly with their minds. However, the company’s ambitions extend beyond that, encompassing potential applications in restoring movement, sensory, and visual functions, as well as treating neurological disorders.

However, with a valuation of $5 billion, Neuralink is also facing ongoing scrutiny concerning its safety measures. Recent reports have raised concerns about regulatory violations involving hazardous material transportation, highlighting the need for careful evaluation before widespread implementation.

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