In an unprecedented breakthrough that sounds like something from a science fiction book, the first person to receive a Neuralink brain implant has spent the entire night playing Civilization 6 by Sid Meier. This incredible achievement not only demonstrates the patient’s gaming endurance but also offers a preview of a time when technology and the human brain will interact in previously unthinkable ways.
Elon Musk, one of its co-founders, announced earlier this year that the first brain-computer interface of the company had finally been installed in a human patient. That patient was recovering well from the surgery and managed to move a computer cursor with nothing more than his thoughts. First in a line of updates that has been steadily building up to some quite surprising news on how good the implant might get.
On March 20, Neuralink shared a nine-minute livestream showcasing 29-year-old Noland Arbaugh, the recipient of the implant, playing digital chess and discussing the life-changing impact of the device. Arbaugh, a complete quadriplegic due to a spinal injury from a diving accident, expressed his motivation for volunteering for the trial: a desire to be part of something that could ‘change the world’.
The livestream was a window into the newfound autonomy Arbaugh experienced thanks to the Neuralink technology. He demonstrated how he could control an on-screen cursor to play chess and manage music playback. But it was his admission of playing Civilization 6 until the early hours of the morning that truly highlighted the freedom the implant had afforded him. ‘It was worth it, I think is the best way to put it, it was awesome,’ Arbaugh said, reflecting on his all-night gaming session.
Arbaugh needed a friend’s assistance to play Civilization 6 prior to the surgery, which made extended sessions unfeasible. With the exception of the occasional implant recharge, he could now enjoy his love of gaming without any help.
Gaming was just one aspect of Arbaugh’s experiences with the Neuralink implant. Additionally, he has been reading without limitations and learning new languages thanks to technology. Crucially, he insisted that the two-hour surgery had not caused him any cognitive deficits, and that the following day, he was free to leave the hospital.
According to Elon Musk’s vision for Neuralink’s future, the implants will be used to help paralyzed people regain their mobility by avoiding injured spinal segments. The company has also looked into the possibility of using cameras to assist blind individuals see.
Controversy has accompanied the path to this point. Since 2018, Neuralink has been under fire for the way it handles animals in pre-human experiments; more than 1,500 animal fatalities have been reported. Neuralink has upheld its dedication to moral animal testing in the face of a government probe and public outcry, and a targeted inspection found no violations of the law. The ramifications for paralyzed people and the larger medical community are significant as Neuralink develops its technology. As he himself stated, “It’s not perfect… there is still a lot of work to be done, but it has already changed my life.” Noland Arbaugh’s story is only the beginning.
