By enabling a paralyzed person to play video games using only their thoughts, Elon Musk’s neurotechnology company, Neuralink, has made a significant advancement. Noland Arbaugh was the first person to get Neuralink’s brain implant, and the tech world is buzzing with excitement about what happened.
The Big Breakthrough of Brain Chips
Neuralink’s main goal is to make brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) that can be implanted and let people and computers talk directly to each other. Neuralink wants to improve thinking skills and maybe even change the way we deal with tools by connecting our thoughts to technology.
The Journey of Noland Arbaugh
Noland Arbaugh, 29, was paralyzed below the shoulder in a diving accident. He recently made news as the first person known to have used Neuralink’s brain interface. During a live-streamed event, Arbaugh showed off his new skills:
Chess: Arbaugh played chess on his PC using only his mind. With the brain-chip device, he could move the computer mouse and play games without moving his body.
Civilization VI Marathon: Arbaugh set himself the goal of playing Civilization VI nonstop for eight hours. Imagine being able to lead a whole society, make smart choices, and take over countries just by thinking about it.
The implant and getting better
After getting permission to test their technology on people, Neuralink put a chip straight into Arbaugh’s brain in January 2024. Arbaugh said he had no problems thinking or remembering after the surgery, which was surprisingly easy. He told them he was thankful: “You all (Neuralink) let me play that game again, and I did it for eight hours straight.”
How Positive Elon Musk Is
Elon Musk, the mastermind behind Neuralink, told Arbaugh how happy he was with his progress. He said, “Things are going well, and the patient seems to be fully recovered, though we are aware of some effects on the brain.” The person can think their way around the screen and move the mouse.
Ethics: Things to Think About
This accomplishment is without a doubt groundbreaking, but it also brings up moral questions. As we learn more about brain-computer connections, we need to be careful not to abuse them and to protect people’s privacy.
What’s Next for Neuralink?
We can only imagine what might be possible as Neuralink continues to study and build. Will it not be long before brain connections make typing, playing games, and even difficult jobs seem natural? Time will tell.
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