On Wednesday, Elon Musk announced that his Neuralink startup is advancing to its second test patient as the technology for connecting brains and computers progresses.
During an update streamed on X, formerly Twitter, Elon Musk and the Neuralink team answered questions about their progress toward making brain implants more widely available.
“We’re just now moving to our second Neuralink patient,” Musk stated. “If everything goes well, we hope to have several more by the end of the year.”
In January, Neuralink successfully installed a brain implant in Noland Arbaugh, who was paralyzed from the shoulders down after a diving accident eight years ago. Musk, who heads Tesla and X, has praised the implant’s success.
Since the procedure, Arbaugh has used the implant to play chess and the video game “Civilization,” and to take Japanese and French lessons by controlling a computer screen cursor with his mind.
Musk and the Neuralink team explained that they had addressed an issue where Arbaugh’s ability to move the cursor with his thoughts had diminished. The problem was that the threads connecting the implant to Arbaugh’s brain had retracted, reducing their effectiveness in picking up signals.
To improve the implant’s performance, the team plans to place the threads deeper in the brain and at various depths with increased precision.
Musk assured that “things will only improve from here.”
One of the goals is to increase the bandwidth of the brain-computer link, allowing for faster data transfer. Musk emphasized that effective communication between humans and AI requires a speed at which AI can keep up.
He envisions Neuralink implants not only restoring sight but potentially offering new abilities such as infrared or ultraviolet vision, or even enabling telepathic communication.
“We want to give people superpowers,” Musk explained. “It’s not just about restoring previous functionality but providing capabilities far beyond those of a typical human.”
Musk also discussed the development of an automated process where Neuralink’s surgical robot could swiftly install custom implants for those seeking “upgrades.”
“It’s very much like ‘Cyberpunk’ or ‘Deus Ex,’ if you’re familiar with those games,” Musk said.
He also mentioned a long-term vision of integrating parts of the Optimus humanoid robot with Neuralink technology, potentially creating “cybernetic superpowers.”
Co-founding Neuralink in 2016, Musk aims to enhance human capabilities, address neurological disorders such as ALS and Parkinson’s, and eventually establish a symbiotic relationship between humans and AI.
Musk is not alone in this endeavor, as advancements in brain-machine or brain-computer interface research continue to progress.