Neuralink, the brain-child of Elon Musk, has recently performed its second implant on an unidentified individual. Musk disclosed his ambition to carry out eight more implants before the year’s end.
This medical technology firm, founded by Musk, is dedicated to aiding individuals with spinal cord injuries, quadriplegia, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The company aims to achieve this by implanting chips that enable users to control digital devices using only their thoughts.
In January 2024, the first human implant was carried out on Nolad Arbaugh, who suffered paralysis following a diving accident nearly a decade ago.
Despite encountering issues with his implant, such as 85% of the wires detaching within weeks, Arbaugh reportedly regained the ability to engage in his favorite activities, including gaming.
During a conversation with MIT research scientist Lex Fridman on his podcast, Musk provided updates on Neuralink’s progress, including details about the second implant.
“I don’t want to jinx it but it seems to have gone extremely well with the second implant,” the CEO shared.
“There’s a lot of signal, a lot of electrodes. It’s working very well.”
Musk did not elaborate on the identity of the second patient but noted that they suffered a spinal cord injury similar to Arbaugh’s.
In May, Arbaugh provided an update on his life post-implant, expressing that the technology had helped him to ‘reconnect with the world, my friends, and my family.’
“It has given me the ability to do things on my own again without needing my family at all hours of the day and night,” he added.
Arbaugh has successfully used his thoughts to move a computer cursor and play online games such as Civilization VI.
“Progress is good and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with no ill effects that we are aware of,” Musk initially commented in February after Arbaugh’s implant, according to Reuters.
“Patient is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking.”
On Fridman’s podcast, Musk also disclosed that Neuralink intends to implant eight more chips this year as part of its ongoing human trials.
The chip, about the size of a quarter, contains dozens of electrodes that are implanted into the brain. These electrodes detect electrical signals from neurons, the nerve cells responsible for transmitting messages throughout the body.