29-Year-Old Paralyzed Man Becomes First Human to Have Neuralink Brain Chip Implanted
Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old man paralyzed from the shoulders down, has made history by becoming the first human to have a Neuralink computer chip implanted in his brain. The chip, which contains 1,000 electrodes, is programmed to gather data about Arbaugh’s brain’s neural activity and movement intention, allowing him to move a computer cursor with his thoughts.
During a live stream with a Neuralink engineer, Arbaugh demonstrated how he uses the chip to play online chess and toggle music on and off, describing the experience as “using the Force on the cursor.” The surgery to implant the chip was completed by a robot surgeon at the end of January, and the following day, Arbaugh was released from the hospital with no cognitive impairments.
Arbaugh expressed his excitement about the technology, stating that it has changed his life by allowing him to play games independently. Neuralink, founded in 2016, has faced criticism for keeping details about its technology and human trials private. However, the US Food and Drug Administration approved human trials of the brain chip last year.
While Neuralink has not disclosed specific details about the trials, Arbaugh has shared his enthusiasm for being a part of something that he believes will change the world. He acknowledged that the technology is not perfect and has faced some issues but emphasized that it has already made a significant impact on his life.
“Infuriatingly humble tv expert. Friendly student. Travel fanatic. Bacon fan. Unable to type with boxing gloves on.”