Elon Musk’s Neuralink Corp. successfully implanted a brain chip in its first human patient, marking a significant milestone in the development of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
The patient, whose identity remains undisclosed, has reportedly made a full recovery and can control a computer mouse using their thoughts. Musk announced the achievement, highlighting Neuralink’s progress and its potential to transform the way humans interact with technology. The implant, designed to facilitate direct communication between the brain and external devices, could offer groundbreaking solutions for people with neurological disorders and mobility issues.
Elon Musk says the first human user of his startup Neuralink’s brain implant can now move a mouse cursor using their mind alone. In a discussion on his social media platform X last week, Musk announced the company’s first patient was already able to control a cursor roughly a month after implantation.
“Progress is good, patient seems to have made a full recoveryand is able to control the mouse, move the mouse around the screen just by thinking,” Musk said, according to CNN. “We’re trying to get as many button presses as possible from thinking, so that’s what we’re currently working on.” Controlling a cursor with a brain implant is nothing new-an academic team achieved the same feat as far back as 2006.
Competitor Synchron, which makes a BMI that is implanted through the brain’s blood vessels, has been running a trial since 2021 in which volunteers have been able to control computers and smartphones using their mind alone.
While the company’s technology works on similar principles to previous devices, it promises far higher precision and ease of use.
That’s because each chip features 1,024 electrodes split between 64 threads thinner than a human hair that are inserted into the brain by a “Sewing machine-like” robot.
“Higher resolution brain interfaces that are fully wireless and allow two-way communication with the brain are going to have a lot of potential uses.”