Elon Musk’s brain chip company is on the lookout for patients worldwide to participate in trials for its device that enables thought-based control of computers.
The company is particularly interested in individuals with quadriplegia, those who cannot move their arms or legs, to join a clinical trial. In a recent announcement, they called for volunteers on a social media platform also owned by Musk.
As of January, it has been reported that three patients have received the device. All participants are quadriplegic and are currently testing a small brain implant designed to monitor neural activity, allowing them to operate a computer or smartphone as part of a clinical trial referred to as the Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface, or PRIME study.
This organization is among several entities, including academic institutions, exploring and developing brain-computer interface technology, which ranges from tiny implantable devices used in clinical settings to non-invasive alternatives resembling hats.
According to the company’s website, the PRIME study, expected to last approximately six years, is seeking quadriplegic individuals with spinal cord injuries or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to use their thoughts to navigate a computer.
Musk, who also leads an automotive company and has held a position related to government efficiency during the Trump administration, aims for Neuralink to transcend merely enabling humans to control computers through thought, aspiring instead to help “give people superpowers.”
### First Patient Reports No Adverse Effects After a Year
Noland Arbaugh, the first participant in the trials, mentioned in a recent social media post that he experienced no negative side effects—physically or psychologically—during the year following his brain implant procedure.
As a quadriplegic, Arbaugh showcased his brain chip about a year ago by maneuvering a computer cursor to play chess and browse the internet. He stated that he now utilizes the brain chip for “a variety of tasks” and estimates he engages with it for over 10 hours each day.
He also revealed that researchers are “working on how to control a wheelchair with the implant,” though he expressed hesitance to use it until it is nearly flawless, stating, “I think it benefits everyone if I don’t lose control and drive into traffic.”
Arbaugh has found success as a traveling keynote speaker, crediting the Neuralink implant for enhancing his ability to write, conduct research, and communicate online.
“I can’t express how much hope and purpose this technology has given me,” he shared. “It’s only a matter of time before the implant is in dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of people.”