First Neuralink patient can control a computer mouse by thinking, claims Elon Musk

The first human being to receive a brain chip from Elon Musk’s Neuralink can apparently control a computer mouse just by thinking, according to Musk.

During a Spaces audio chat on Musk’s social media platform X on Monday, the Neuralink founder shared some information about the first human patient to receive the brain chip transplant.

“Progress is good, and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with no ill effects that we are aware of,” Musk said. “Patient is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking.”

“We’re trying to get as many button presses as possible from thinking, so that’s what we’re currently working on,” he continued.

What we know about Neuralink’s first human patient

Last month, Musk shared in a post on X that Neuralink had successfully performed the transplant surgery on a human for the first time on Jan. 28.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1752119586470949056″ target=”_blank” title=”(opens in a new window)” rel=”noopener

While Neuralink’s first human patient received the transplant last month, the company has been criticized for controversial animal testing in the past.

Musk has previously denied performing trials on healthy monkeys; however, a former Neuralink employee detailed the brutal conditions some monkeys underwent during tests in a Wired report last year. In some trials, issues with the transplant would cause monkeys’ health to decline and they would eventually be euthanized. 

In addition to animal welfare investigations from the U.S. government, Neuralink was recently fined by the U.S. Department of Transportation for violating regulations regarding the transport of hazardous materials.

After initially rejecting Neuralink’s application to begin human testing, the FDA gave Neuralink approval for human transplants last year.

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Elon Musk

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Matt Binder

February 20, 2024 7:07 pm