The man with a mind-reading chip in his brain - thanks to Elon Musk
How Elon Musk's Brain Chip is Changing Mind-Reading Technology Forever
It may sound like science fiction to have a chip in your brain that can convert your thoughts into commands for a computer, but Noland Arbaugh actually had one.
The 30-year-old became the first individual to receive such a device from the US neurotechnology company Neuralink in January 2024, eight years after he was paralyzed.
Although a few other businesses have also created and implanted such chips, Noland's unavoidably garners greater attention because to Neuralink's creator, Elon Musk.
However, Noland asserts that the science—not Musk or him—is what matters most.
"Good or bad, whatever may be, I would be helping," he told the BBC, acknowledging the dangers of his actions.
The 30-year-old became the first individual to receive such a device from the US neurotechnology company Neuralink in January 2024, eight years after he was paralyzed.
Although a few other businesses have also created and implanted such chips, Noland's unavoidably garners greater attention because to Neuralink's creator, Elon Musk.
However, Noland asserts that the science—not Musk or him—is what matters most.
"Good or bad, whatever may be, I would be helping," he told the BBC, acknowledging the dangers of his actions.
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"If everything worked out, then I could help being a participant of Neuralink," he said.
"If something terrible happened, I knew they would learn from it."
'No control, no privacy'
Noland, who is from Arizona, was paralysed below the shoulders in a diving accident in 2016.
Because of the severity of his injuries, he was afraid that he might never be able to work, study, or even play video games.
"You just have no control, no privacy, and it's hard," he stated.
"You have to learn that you have to rely on other people for everything."
By enabling him to operate a computer with his thoughts, the Neuralink chip seeks to partially restore his prior independence.
It's called a brain computer interface (BCI), and it functions by identifying the little electrical impulses that are produced when people consider moving and converting them into digital commands, like moving a cursor on a screen.
Scientists have been studying this complicated topic for many years.
"You just have no control, no privacy, and it's hard," he stated.
"You have to learn that you have to rely on other people for everything."
By enabling him to operate a computer with his thoughts, the Neuralink chip seeks to partially restore his prior independence.
It's called a brain computer interface (BCI), and it functions by identifying the little electrical impulses that are produced when people consider moving and converting them into digital commands, like moving a cursor on a screen.
Scientists have been studying this complicated topic for many years.
Elon Musk's participation in the industry has unavoidably thrust the technology—and Noland Arbaugh—into the public eye.
It has helped Neuralink draw a lot of money, but it has also raised questions about the safety and importance of this highly invasive operation.
Experts praised Noland's implant as a "significant milestone" when it was revealed, but they also warned that it would take time to fully evaluate, particularly in light of Musk's skill at "generating publicity for his company."
At the time, Musk was reticent in public, posting on social media just that "Initial results show promising neuron spike detection."
Noland claimed that the millionaire, with whom he had conversations both prior to and following his surgery, was actually much more upbeat.
It has helped Neuralink draw a lot of money, but it has also raised questions about the safety and importance of this highly invasive operation.
Experts praised Noland's implant as a "significant milestone" when it was revealed, but they also warned that it would take time to fully evaluate, particularly in light of Musk's skill at "generating publicity for his company."
At the time, Musk was reticent in public, posting on social media just that "Initial results show promising neuron spike detection."
Noland claimed that the millionaire, with whom he had conversations both prior to and following his surgery, was actually much more upbeat.
"I think he was just as excited as I was to get started," he said.
Nonetheless, he stresses that Neuralink is about more than its owner, and claims he does not consider it "an Elon Musk device".
Whether the rest of the world sees it that way—especially given his increasingly controversial role in the US government - remains to be seen.
But there is no questioning the impact the device has had on Noland's life.
'This shouldn't be possible'
When Noland awoke from the surgery which installed the device, he said he was initially able to control a cursor on a screen by thinking about wiggling his fingers.
"Honestly I didn't know what to expect - it sounds so sci-fi," he said.
But after seeing his neurons spike on a screen - all the while surrounded by excited Neuralink employees - he said "it all sort of sunk in" that he could control his computer with just his thoughts.
And - even better - over time his ability to use the implant has grown to the point he can now play chess and video games.
"I grew up playing games," he said - adding it was something he "had to let go of" when he became disabled.
"Now I'm beating my friends at games, which really shouldn't be possible but it is."
Noland is a powerful demonstration of the tech's potential to change lives - but there may be drawbacks too.
"One of the main problems is privacy," said Anil Seth, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Sussex.
"So if we are exporting our brain activity [...] then we are kind of allowing access to not just what we do but potentially what we think, what we believe and what we feel," he told the BBC.
"Once you've got access to stuff inside your head, there really is no other barrier to personal privacy left."
But these aren't concerns for Noland - instead he wants to see the chips go further in terms of what they can do.
He told the BBC he hoped the device could eventually allow him to control his wheelchair, or even a futuristic humanoid robot.
Even with the tech in its current, more limited state, it hasn't all been smooth sailing though.
At one point, an issue with the device caused him to lose control of his computer altogether, when it partially disconnected from his brain.
"That was really upsetting to say the least," he said.
"I didn't know if I would be able to use Neuralink ever again."
The connection was repaired - and subsequently improved - when engineers adjusted the software, but it highlighted a concern frequently voiced by experts over the technology's limitations.
Big business
Numerous businesses, including Neuralink, are investigating ways to digitally harness human intelligence.
One such company is Synchron, which claims that a less intrusive procedure is necessary to implant its Stentrode device, which helps people with motor neurone disease.
It is inserted into the jugular vein in the neck and then sent up to the brain via a blood vessel, negating the need for open brain surgery.
The gadget eventually links to the motor area of the brain, just as Neuralink.
Chief technology officer Riki Bannerjee stated, "It detects whether a person is considering tapping or not tapping their finger."
"By being able to pick up those differences it can create what we call a digital motor output."
One such company is Synchron, which claims that a less intrusive procedure is necessary to implant its Stentrode device, which helps people with motor neurone disease.
It is inserted into the jugular vein in the neck and then sent up to the brain via a blood vessel, negating the need for open brain surgery.
The gadget eventually links to the motor area of the brain, just as Neuralink.
Chief technology officer Riki Bannerjee stated, "It detects whether a person is considering tapping or not tapping their finger."
"By being able to pick up those differences it can create what we call a digital motor output."
Ten people are currently using that output once it has been converted into computer signals.
He told the BBC that he was the first person in the world to use the device with Apple's Vision Pro headset, but he did not want his last name to be used.
According to Mark, this has made it possible for him to take virtual vacations in far-flung places, such as walking across mountains in New Zealand or standing in Australian waterfalls.
"I can see down the road in the future a world where this technology could really, really make a difference for someone that has this or any paralysis," he stated.
He told the BBC that he was the first person in the world to use the device with Apple's Vision Pro headset, but he did not want his last name to be used.
According to Mark, this has made it possible for him to take virtual vacations in far-flung places, such as walking across mountains in New Zealand or standing in Australian waterfalls.
"I can see down the road in the future a world where this technology could really, really make a difference for someone that has this or any paralysis," he stated.
However, Noland's Neuralink chip has a catch: he consented to participate in a study that placed it for six years; after that, it's unclear what the future holds.
He thinks his experience might be only the beginning of something that could one day come to pass, regardless of what happens to him.
"We know so little about the brain and this is allowing us to learn so much more," he stated.
DotoTV.com carried out additional reporting.
He thinks his experience might be only the beginning of something that could one day come to pass, regardless of what happens to him.
"We know so little about the brain and this is allowing us to learn so much more," he stated.
DotoTV.com carried out additional reporting.
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