Noland Arbaugh, the first person to receive a Neuralink implant, has provided an update on his journey with the groundbreaking technology. In a recent Twitter post, Arbaugh, who affectionately named his implant “Eve,” detailed his experiences and ongoing projects seven months after his surgery. Arbaugh was a student and athlete at Texas when a 2016 accident left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. The accident occurred while he was working as a summer camp counselor, and he lost all sensation below his shoulders.
Notably, last year, Neuralink got permission from US officials to start testing their brain implants on people. The main device used is called the "Link," which is about the size of five coins stacked together. This implant is put inside the brain through a surgical procedure.
Arbaugh spends about four hours each day at Neuralink’s facilities, where he works on various tasks using his implant. His activities include training to use different body movements for computer functions like clicking and typing. He’s also focused on handwriting by mentally simulating holding a pencil to produce keystrokes on a screen. Arbaugh is actively involved in improving the user interface and overall performance of the technology, constantly pushing himself to achieve new milestones.
In his personal time, Arbaugh has been using his Neuralink implant to pursue several educational and creative goals. He dedicates roughly three hours daily to learning French and Japanese using various resources. Additionally, he is revisiting foundational math concepts through Peterson Academy to prepare for a possible return to school. Arbaugh also reads extensively, exploring works by authors such as Brandon Sanderson, Stieg Larsson, JRR Tolkien, and Victor Hugo, and has resumed creative writing with hopes of publishing his work in the future.
Beyond academics and writing, Arbaugh uses his implant for devotionals and Bible studies. He is considering going back to school, possibly switching to a neuroscience focus, given his unique perspective on the field. He also dreams of finding employment, starting a charity, and eventually building a home for his parents.
Neuralink wants to boost human abilities and help with neurological conditions like ALS and Parkinson’s. They aim to create a strong link between people and AI. The goal is to let you control devices like phones and computers just by thinking about them.
