Patient who played chess with his mind says with Neuralink being paralysed isn’t all that bad

Neuralink, a company focused on brain-computer interface technology, recently shared a video showcasing its first human patient using a brain-chip implant to play Chess with his mind. He is now also seen playing "Mario Kart" - all thanks to Neuralink's brain chip. The patient, 29-year-old Noland Arbaugh, is quadriplegic due to a swimming accident. As the device has helped him play games and do a few other things using only his mind, Arbaugh is quite impressed by the tech and happy with the newfound independence of individuals with paralysis.

Arbaugh, speaking at an all-hands meeting with Neuralink staff, expressed his enthusiasm for the brain chip's capabilities. He shared how the device has enabled him to engage in activities he enjoyed before his accident, such as gaming. Despite his physical limitations, Arbaugh described the experience of being paralysed as "not that bad" with the assistance of the Neuralink device, Business Insider reported.

"Anything that makes me more independent I'm all for and this is probably going to make people like me the most independent that they might ever be until it all gets cured — and I think that's a very real possibility," he added.

Bliss Chapman, Neuralink's brain interface software lead, revealed that Arbaugh's desire to play "Mario Kart" was among the first things he expressed when presented with the opportunity to utilise the brain-chip implant. The company showcased a split-screen video of the game, featuring Arbaugh controlling one of the characters solely through his mind. Chapman highlighted Arbaugh's remarkable ability to navigate the game track and interact with other players, demonstrating the potential of brain-computer interface technology.

In addition to gaming, Arbaugh has also been seen using the Neuralink device to play chess on his laptop, further illustrating the device's versatility and potential to enhance the lives of paralysed individuals. This technological advancement opens doors for greater independence and autonomy, providing a glimpse into a future where paralysis may no longer be as limiting.

Founded by Musk in 2016, Neuralink is a brain-chip startup. It is a device, the size of a coin, which is surgically implanted in the skull. Its ultra-thin wires go into the brain and develop a brain-computer interface (BCI). The disk would register brain activity and send it over to a device, such as a smartphone, through a common Bluetooth connection.