Neuralink's second patient is using his brain implant to design 3D objects. Here's how it works.
Future Publishing
- Elon Musk says Neuralink has successfully implanted a brain chip in a second human patient.
- The patient has used the chip to play video games and design 3D objects.
- Here's how Neuralink's chips work.
Neuralink says it has successfully implanted another brain chip in a human patient.
According to a study update shared by the company, the patient, identified by his first name, Alex, has been improving his ability to play video games and has started learning how to use design software to create 3D objects.
The company said the procedure "went well," and Alex's recovery "has been smooth."
The update said Alex had already used computer-aided design (CAD) software to design a custom mount for his Neuralink charger, which was later 3D printed and used for his setup.
Elon Musk first announced the news during an episode of the Lex Fridman podcast released earlier this month. At the time, Musk said 400 of the implant's electrodes on the second patient's brain were working. The threads have more than 1,000 electrodes in total.
Neuralink aims to eventually create a device that would allow people to do anything with their minds, from communicating telepathically to playing video games.
Its first patient, Noland Arbaugh, received the brain chip in January. He previously told Business Insider the implant had helped him regain independence and reconnect socially.
Musk's brain chip company has lofty goals — here's how the chips work.
Brain-machine interface
Neuralink's overarching aim is to create a brain-machine interface that could revolutionize how humans interact with technology and potentially lead to groundbreaking advancements in medicine, communication, and human cognition.
For example, Musk said on the podcast that someone with a Neuralink chip could beat a professional gamer in a few years.
"We feel pretty confident that in the next year or two, someone with a Neuralink implant would be able to outperform a pro gamer because the reaction time would be faster," he said.
The core of Neuralink's technology is a small, implantable chip called the "Link," which contains numerous tiny, flexible electrode threads. The threads are thinner than human hair and require precise surgery, which is performed by a specialized robotic system.
The chip captures and transmits brain activity, sending it wirelessly to an external device such as a computer.
The goal of Neuralink devices is to eventually be able to repair damaged neurons and help people with issues such as paralysis. However, the company has faced a long road to get its products into humans.
Robot surgery
The threads are too small to be implanted by a human hand, so the surgery is done with a robot.
According to Neuralink, the robot can handle the ultrathin wires and implant them without disrupting blood vessels in the brain, reducing the risk of damage and inflammation.
It reportedly takes about 25 minutes for the robot to insert the device.
Neuralink struggled to secure regulatory approval to start human clinical trials, missing several of Musk's deadlines. The company eventually received approval for its first human clinical study in May 2023, resulting in thousands of prospective patients volunteering to have a portion of their skull removed and the chip inserted.
Neuralink has also faced intense scrutiny over its treatment of animal test subjects over the years. Several reports indicated that monkeys that had the implant installed experienced a range of health issues before they were eventually euthanized.
Representatives for Neuralink did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.