Elon Musk’s Neuralink recently shared a video on X showcasing a robotic arm that is seemingly controlled via the company’s N1 brain chip.
The 30-second video, posted on January 30, 2024, shows the robotic arm writing the word “Convoy” on a whiteboard. The tweet and clip provided little information and did not specify who or what was controlling the robotic arm, leading many to believe it was one of the human participants who had been implanted with the brain interface chip and controlling it with their mind.
One of Neuralink’s key goals is to restore mobility in individuals with disabilities through mind-controlled technology. Since last year, Neuralink’s ongoing PRIME study has been assessing the safety of its wireless brain-computer interface and surgical robot. Focused on quadriplegic patients, the study tests the implant’s ability to control devices using only thought.
🧠🦾🖊️ pic.twitter.com/TapNfhllLS
— Neuralink (@neuralink) January 30, 2025
“We’re excited to announce the approval and launch of a new feasibility trial to extend BCI control using the N1 Implant to an investigational assistive robotic arm,” the Neuralink team stated last year in a November 25 posting on X, the social media site owned by Neuralink founder Elon Musk.
“This is an important first step towards restoring not only digital freedom but also physical freedom. More info to come, but the CONVOY Study will enable cross-enrolling participants from the ongoing PRIME Study,” the statement added.
On January 29, 2024, Noland Arbaugh made history as the first person to receive Neuralink’s brain implant, “The Link,” in clinical trials. At 30 years old and paralyzed from the shoulders down after a diving accident, Noland took a bold step toward a new future, volunteering for this groundbreaking procedure.
Arbaugh says he’s learning new languages, like French and Japanese while brushing up on his handwriting and relearning math. He has also said he is optimistic about returning to school and potentially studying neuroscience and envisions starting a charity, building a home for his parents, and becoming a stronger advocate for his community.
Neuralink has faced several challenges over the years. In 2024, the company shared that Arbaugh experienced some medical complications, including the retraction of specific threads connecting the implant to his brain. Since then, Neuralink has worked to resolve the issue, adjusting both the implant and Arbaugh’s chip algorithm to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Additionally, claims of animal cruelty involving monkeys have been associated with Neuralink, which began to circulate widely last year.
Musk has refuted these claims despite the company acknowledging that monkeys have died during testing. In a September 10, 2023 post on X, Musk stated, “No monkey has died as a result of a Neuralink implant,” explaining that the tests involved “terminal monkeys.”
However, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine revealed documents it obtained that confirm the death of a rhesus macaque occurred at the University of California, Davis, between 2017 and 2020.
Despite the setbacks, Musk insists the brain chip is “working well,” and Neuralink continues to push forward with its human trials and assistive robotic technology.
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.