Elon Musk’s brain-computing company, Neuralink, has reported that surgery for the second patient with the Neuralink implant went well, and the patient can now design 3D objects and play Counter-Strike 2.
Neuralink reported that they were able to improve the procedure by adverting electrode threads retracting from his brain.
This was the case with Noland Abraugh, who was the first human who went through the procedure. In a blog post, Neuralink explained how they mitigated this effect.
“To reduce the probability of thread retraction in our second participant, we implemented a number of mitigations, including reducing brain motion during the surgery and reducing the gap between the implant and the surface of the brain,” explained a Neuralink representative.
Neuralink had been working on new capabilities for the brain interface
The company had been testing new capabilities for its brain interface, and they were able to unveil them with the success of the second patient.
For instance, patients can now control on-screen cursors on computers and other digital devices.
According to Neuralink, the next step is for its device to be able to decode multiple simultaneous movements and recognize handwriting attempts to help patients write more quickly.
The company explained that the new capabilities would help patients gain digital autonomy and restore the ability to communicate with those who can’t speak.
Even though the company anticipates the device to be available for people with neurological conditions, as of right now, it is solely designed for patients with quadriplegia.
The second patient with Neuralink has used the implant to play Counter-Strike 2
The second patient to receive the Neuralink implant, simply known as “Alex,” was a man who lost control of all of his limbs after a severe spinal cord injury.
Since receiving the Neuralink implant, he has been using it to control a mouse on his laptop to play Counter-Strike 2. Before receiving the Neuralink implant, Alex used a controller he operated with his mouth to play the game.
However, this setup only allowed Alex to move or aim with a weapon at a single time. He couldn’t have a “normal” Counter-Strike experience.
Thanks to Neuralink, he can now aim with the implant and move using his controller, providing him with a better gaming experience.
Alex told Neuralink’s blog, “Just running around is so enjoyable because I can look side to side, and not need to move Quadstick (the controller) left and right.”
He added, “I can think about where to look and it goes where I want it to. It’s insane.”
Aside from gaming, Alex has also been able to use the Neuralink implant to create 3D designs in CAD software.
