Neuralink has implanted its experimental N1 brain-computer interface (BCI) in a second patient, with Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, reporting the procedure is “working very well.”
“I don’t want to jinx it, but it seems to have gone extremely well with the second implant,” Musk said during a recent appearance on Lex Friedman’s podcast. “There’s a lot of signal, a lot of electrodes. It’s working very well.”
However, the question remains whether the experimental technology is indeed working well, as many issues have arisen since the first human was implanted with the game-changing brain chip.
In September 2023, Neuralink advanced to human trials, marking a significant milestone by implanting its brain chip in its first human patient. Noland Arbaugh, a 30-year-old quadriplegic, volunteered for the procedure and demonstrated the ability to play video games and chess using only his mind, thanks to the technology known as “The Link.”
Since then, only a some of the device’s components have been functioning correctly. Musk notes that only 400 of the 1,024 electrodes implanted in the user’s motor cortex transmit signals, showing a roughly 10 percent improvement over the 80-85 percent malfunction rate observed in Neuralink’s first volunteer.
A total of 870 electrodes have reportedly detached from Noland Arbaugh after it was revealed that the brain chip had moved from its initial location within his skull, an unexpected outcome for the Neuralink team.
Currently, there is no information that has been made available to the public on why this happened. However, Arbaugh has said the company expressed concerns over the prospect of bringing him back in for surgery to remove the chip. Instead, Neuralink reportedly decided to pivot to another plan where the implant would remain intact. The Neuralink team then designed a new “recording algorithm” to help improve the user interface.
Complications involving they company’s brain implants aren’t the only issues Neuralink has faced in recent months. The company has also faced criticism over accusations involving animal cruelty and related safety issues. In 2022, it was reported that Neuralink was facing a federal inquiry following the revelation that close to 1,500 animals had been killed during testing the company had performed.
Musk has not commented on any animal rights concerns directed at the company.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on The Debrief’s YouTube Channel on all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton and at chrissynewton.com.