Elon Musk’s Neuralink Installed Into Brain Of Second Patient

OAN Staff Blake Wolf
9:30 AM – Friday, August 23, 2024

Forward-thinking billionaire Elon Musk’s brain-technology company Neuralink has installed a chip implant into the brain of a second human patient.

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Neuralink, which launched in 2016, has primarily focused on patients with physical disabilities. The second patient, identified as a participant named “Alex,” is now reportedly able to use his brain to utilize advanced computer software. He can even play video games without putting any energy into his limbs, just solely by using his mind alone.

“Last month, Alex, * the second participant in our PRIME Study, ** received his Neuralink implant (Link). The surgery, conducted at the Barrow Neurological Institute, went well – Alex was discharged the following day, and his recovery has been smooth. With the Link, he has been improving his ability to play video games and began learning how to use computer-aided design (CAD) software to design 3D objects. This marks another significant step towards providing a high-performance interface that will enhance the control of digital devices for people with quadriplegia to help restore their autonomy,” the company stated.

Previously, the first patient, “Noland,” had faced some challenges related to “thread retraction,” which reduced the electrodes measuring brain signals. These issues have now been stabilized since then, according to the company.

The device was first tested on animals like pigs and monkeys before moving on to physically-disabled human patients.

In the future, the device will also be available for people without disabilities, helping them better “integrate into the technological world.”

Musk has claimed that Neuralink will eventually “solve” autism, will allow people to “save” memories, will allow the blind to regain eyesight, and even “enable superhuman cognition.”

“If all goes well, there will be hundreds of people with Neuralinks within a few years, maybe tens of thousands within 5 years, millions within 10 years,” Musk stated.

Alex, who used to work as an automotive technician, is now able to operate 3D computer-assisted design software, allowing him to regain some control of his autonomy again.

“Taking an idea, putting it as a design, and actually having a physical item as a finished product makes me feel like I’m building things again,” he stated.