Last week, Neuralink’s supporters were astounded as they presented their inaugural human recipient, Noland Arbaugh, who had been implanted with their pioneering product. A live video broadcast demonstrated Arbaugh operating a computer mouse and engaging in computerized chess through a brain implant. At the age of 29, Arbaugh has become the first individual to receive Neuralink’s “Telepathy,” a brain-computer interface (BCI) designed to assist patients with severe paralysis in controlling external technology using solely neural signals.
Arbaugh’s account of the positive impact the implant has had on his life garnered widespread attention. He disclosed that he has been able to accomplish tasks that were formerly beyond his reach, such as participating in online chess and the video game Civilization VI. Although there were certain challenges encountered during the procedure, Arbaugh stressed that his life has already been transformed by the implant and that there is still much to be accomplished in the field.
Elon Musk also divulged that Neuralink would be developing a product known as “Blindsight,” which he alleges could remedy blindness by transmitting “direct vision to the brain.” Musk proclaimed that Blindsight had been tested on monkeys, with no accounts of severe harm or fatalities. Nonetheless, these assertions have been met with scrutiny, as the expedited trials of over a thousand animals have resulted in allegations of animal abuse and a lawsuit from a group of physicians.
Despite Neuralink’s prominent position, it is not the sole participant in the BCI arena. Numerous companies have been active in this domain for several years, each with their own innovative approaches.
Precision Neuroscience, established by one of Neuralink’s co-founders, has devised the Layer 7 Cortical Interface, intended to aid patients with degenerative illnesses in restoring communication and social media access. Blackrock Neurotech, headquartered in Salt Lake City, utilises an implantable microchip with 96 arrays to detect and translate brain signals, with promising applications in addressing physical paralysis, blindness, and depression. Synchron, a firm based in Brooklyn, has formulated the Synchron Switch, enabling individuals with limited mobility to operate technology through their minds. Onward Medical, located in the Netherlands, has secured FDA approval for their BCI technology, enabling them to reduce the time and cost necessary to provide benefits to individuals living with paralysis. Braingate, developed in conjunction with numerous universities, has been at the forefront of BCI technology since 2004, with continuous clinical trials for their second-generation BCI. Paradromics, located in Austin, is developing the Connexus Direct Data Interface, which entails invasive brain surgery and transceiver technology to measure and translate neural signals.
Each of these companies has made substantial advancements in the realm of brain-computer interfaces and is striving to improve the lives of individuals with neurological conditions. As they navigate through regulatory clearances, clinical trials, and commercialization, the future looks promising for the advancement of BCI technology, with the potential to revolutionize medical care for patients with paralysis and other debilitating conditions.