Elon Musk’s startup, Neuralink, recently showcased a milestone in its technology when a patient played chess using only his mind, facilitated by a brain-chip implant. This marks the first time an individual with a Neuralink implant has achieved such a feat.
The third individual to receive a Neuralink brain implant, identified as having non-verbal ALS, has found a new way to communicate using his own voice, made possible by the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
In a video shared on a social media platform, Brad Smith, one of the implant recipients, expressed gratitude despite his illness, noting improvements in his quality of life after receiving the implant. Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, indicated on their blog in January that three people, including Smith, use the technology known as Telepathy.
The blog post detailed that these participants, unable to move their limbs due to various conditions, volunteered for Neuralink’s PRIME Study—a clinical trial aimed at proving the device’s safety and utility in everyday life for those living with paralysis. Smith, for instance, can no longer move or speak, relying on the implant for communication. He explained that the Brain Computer Interface (BCI) enabled him to control his MacBook Pro through a synthesized version of his voice, preserved before he lost his vocal ability.
Smith, discussing his condition, explained that ALS affects his motor neurons without impairing his cognition. He described his journey as beginning with a shoulder injury and evolving into total reliance on a ventilator and limited movement, depending on the Neuralink for communication.
Prior to the implant, Smith used an eye-gaze-controlled computer, which was limiting. Now, thanks to Neuralink, he can navigate more freely, facilitated by an implant that uses Bluetooth to communicate with a computer, allowing for processing.
Smith shared insights into the implant’s workings, which include data from numerous electrodes in his brain, enabling him to engage and train with the system to improve his efficiency in communication. He has customized features to streamline interactions, ensuring easier and faster computing.
Highlighting a key challenge with ALS—rapid thought versus slower typing—Smith has collaborated with the Neuralink team to develop a chat application using AI to assist in conversation, giving him quick, suggested responses.
Smith reflected on the positive impact Neuralink has had on his life, stating its significance in his daily existence and expressing appreciation for involvement in a project with such potential benefit for others. He concluded by noting a sense of hope and fulfillment, expressing gratitude for his family and the changes in his life brought about by the technology.
