Elon Musk made a significant announcement this week about Neuralink, revealing that the brain-computer interface (BCI) company is on the verge of a major milestone with the implantation of its system in a second human patient. The procedure is expected to occur as soon as next week.
“We’re only just moving now to our second Neuralink patient,” Musk said during a live stream on X. “We hope to have, if things go well, high single digits this year.”
Executives from his team also mentioned that Neuralink will make new adjustments to address hardware issues encountered with the first participant. “It’s going to get better,” Musk promises.
Just last week, Elon Musk announced Nuralink’s postponement of its highly anticipated second brain chip implant procedure. The individual was initially set to become Neuralink’s second brain-computer interface patient, but the patient had to withdraw from the procedure, which was originally scheduled for Monday, June 24, due to health concerns unrelated to the brain implant.
Michael Lawton, CEO of the Barrow Neurological Institute, confirmed the cancellation last week and announced that Neuralink is now in search of a new candidate. Lawton added that the next patient is slated for surgery next month at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Choosing the right patient for such a trial is crucial. Everyone involved, both clinically and surgically, aims to ensure precision,” he emphasized.
It now appears that the second implant has been moved up by a few weeks, contrary to Lawton’s announcement last week, which indicated it would be a month away.
Last year, Neuralink achieved a significant milestone by implanting its brain chip in its first human patient, Noland Arbaugh. Arbaugh, a 30-year-old quadriplegic, demonstrated the ability to play video games and chess using only his mind, thanks to the device known as “The Link.” The Barrow Neurological Institute conducted the surgery in January, earning praise for its expertise in handling complex neurological conditions.
Neuralink President DJ Seo commended the facility for its quality and swift care. Neuralink aims to have as many as ten participants in its clinical trials by the end of the year. To date, over 1,000 quadriplegics have registered to take part in the brain chip implant surgery.
Neuralink’s primary mission is to restore full mobility to paralyzed individuals and vision to blind or visually impaired patients. The Neuralink device, about the size of a large coin, is surgically implanted into the skull. It features microscopic wires that detect neuron activity and transmit a wireless signal.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on The Debrief’s YouTube Channel. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton and at chrissynewton.com.