Elon Musk's Neuralink has revealed its first brain-chip recipient using the implant to play chess online.

First Neuralink Recipient Control Computer, Plays Chess Using Brain Chip

The first recipient of the computer-linked chip of Neuralink implanted on their brain surface exhibited their telekinetic skills for playing chess online. This happened while discussing the revolutionary procedure for the first time in a livestream.

Noland Arbaugh was the first one to receive the implant. This 29-year-old had quadriplegia, which is paralysis that impacts the body from the neck all the way down. Arbaugh volunteered to receive the implant as part of the ongoing technological trial of Neuralink. His identity has remained a safekept secret, until now.

The livestream was shared on X on March 20. In the video, Arbaugh was seen playing online chess on a laptop while navigating the cursor using his thoughts. He shares that mind-controlling computers felt like he was using "the force."

He shares his learning for using the chip to control the cursor of a computer. It was initially by trying to move his hand in order to yield the required brain signals. He shares that from thereon, it became quite intuitive for him to imagine the movement of the cursor. He just stares at the screen and then the cursor moves to where he wants it to, which was an experience that Arbaugh described as "wild."

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Neuralink's First Implant

The livestream came as a surprise and serves as Neuralink's first update on its X account since it shared Musk's January announcement.

On top of playing chess, Arbaugh also shares that he used the implant to play the Civilization VI computer game and learn French and Japanese, presumably with the assistance of online programs.

Before he received the implant, Arbaugh's computer explorations were boxed to mouth stick use or depending on family members to click on some buttons. Arbaugh shares that, now, he can live on his bed and just play to his heart's content.

He also shares that the implant surgery was remarkably easy and that he was discharged a day after. He also did not experience any cognitive impairment since the implant of the device.

Neuralink

Neuralink is a company based in the US that is owned and founded by the tech mogul Elon Musk. The company's specialty lies in BCIs (brain-computer interfaces), which are devices that can register brain activity and convert it into commands for operating a computer system.

The device of Neuralink that is undergoing testing is known as Telepathy. It is roughly coin-sized and is implanted into a small hole on the skull, which a robot drills. When it is added, Telepathy releases some electrode threats that link to a brain region that handles movement intention. Telepathy then picks up electrical signals and transmits data wirelessly to an app, which then translates such signals into computer commands that can control a mouse and keyboard.

In June 2023, the device was granted a go signal by the US Food and Drug Administration for human trials. In January 2024, Musk revealed that the first Telepathy device has been implanted successfully into a human, who is Arbaugh.

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