In a groundbreaking development, a man suffering from quadriplegia has been able to play chess by utilizing a brain chip implant from the emerging American company Neuralink, owned by Elon Musk.
This achievement comes about a month after the first human with a Neuralink brain chip successfully controlled a computer mouse through thought.
Neuralink released a live-streamed video on Wednesday on the social networking sites "X" and "Reddit," showcasing Nolan Arbo's capacity to play chess on a computer by simply using his mind, thanks to the brain implant. Arbo, who became quadriplegic after a car accident, shared that he could not only play chess but also the video game "Civilization" and even take lessons in Japanese and French languages. Smiling in the video, he expressed his amazement, saying, "This is crazy. It's really fantastic."
Overcoming Challenges and Enriching Life
29-year-old Nolan Arbo mentioned that there is still much to be done, but his life has already changed dramatically. During an interaction with one of the engineers at Neuralink, he described how the new technology has simplified the way he can engage with several hobbies. He also explained how the implant translates his intentions into cursor movements on the screen. The Neuralink engineer committed to keeping internet users updated on Arbo’s progress. Arbo justifies his participation in the project as a wish "to be a part of something I believe will change the world."
Regarding the video game "Civilization 6," he said, "I had lost hope of ever playing that game again. You all at Neuralink have given me the ability to do so, and I played for 8 straight hours." However, he acknowledged that the experience with this new technology was "not perfect" and that they faced "some issues."
A Venture Backed by $323 Million
Elon Musk, the head of companies
Tesla, SpaceX, and the platform "X," announced in January that Neuralink had conducted its first brain implant surgery as part of clinical trials. By the end of February, he confirmed that the patient had gained the ability to control a computer mouse through thought. Neuralink, headquartered in Fremont, California, received authorization from the FDA, the American regulatory agency for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, in May. Musk's goal is to make his brain implants accessible to all to enable better communication with computers and, as he claims, to counter the "threat to our civilization" posed by artificial intelligence. Neuralink has raised approximately $323 million from investors and aims to help paralyzed patients walk again, restore sight to the blind, and even treat mental illnesses such as depression.