Elon Musk’s Neuralink implant has been hailed as a success, with the first human recipient able to interact with his surroundings in new and incredible ways. However, a recent report from the Wall Street Journal reveals that this success was not without its challenges. In fact, the report suggests that Musk and his team only disclosed these problems after being questioned by the media.
The report focuses on the first 100 days of the implant in the test subject, Nolan Arbaugh, a quadriplegic patient who had been paralyzed for nearly a decade. Neuralink had previously showcased Arbaugh’s ability to play chess and video games using only his mind, thanks to the brain implant. However, until now, the public was unaware of a major problem that arose during this period.
It turns out that some of the implant’s “threads” had come loose from Arbaugh’s brain, resulting in data loss. The Neuralink microchip, which contains 1,024 electrodes across 64 threads, is implanted in the patient’s brain to transmit signals to the neural network. While Arbaugh’s health was not at risk, the issue did affect his ability to control his computer accurately and quickly.
Neuralink’s own report on the 100 successful days after the implant mentioned the problem briefly in a single paragraph. The company mentioned that “a number of threads retracted from the brain,” leading to a decrease in effective electrodes and a reduction in bits-per-second (BPS) for controlling the computer. However, Neuralink claimed to have made refinements to improve BPS and enhance user interface, resulting in sustained improvement.
According to the Wall Street Journal report, Neuralink is actively working on resolving this issue to prevent it from happening in future implants. It is believed that the threads retracted due to a condition called “pneumocephalus,” which occurs when air becomes trapped inside the skull after implant surgery. This caused some of the threads to disconnect.
While the first Neuralink implant can still be considered a success, it is crucial that both the positive and negative aspects are transparently disclosed. The report highlights the importance of transparency, especially considering Neuralink’s alleged history of concealing information, such as reports of monkey deaths related to their implants.
Overall, this development in neural implants is undoubtedly groundbreaking, offering hope to individuals with paralysis. However, ongoing research and improvements are necessary to ensure the long-term success and safety of these implants. The challenges faced by Neuralink serve as a reminder that even groundbreaking technologies have room for improvement and require transparency to build trust among users and the public.