Elon Musk, the founder of Neuralink Corp, recently marked a significant achievement as the company celebrated the 100-day milestone since the first human implant of its brain-computer interface. The implant was received by the first participant, Noland Arbaugh, and the surgery took place at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Despite the successful procedure, there was an acknowledgment by Neuralink that a malfunction occurred post-surgery, leading to a decrease in the number of effective electrodes due to thread retraction from the brain, which impacted the Brain Performance Score (BPS).
In response to the malfunction, Neuralink made improvements to the recording algorithm, user interface, and signal translation into cursor movements. These enhancements resulted in a rapid and sustained improvement in BPS, surpassing Arbaugh's initial performance. Although the situation required adjustments, the company did not opt for removing the implant as it was deemed not to pose a direct risk to Arbaugh’s safety, as per The Wall Street Journal. Arbaugh, who uses the BCI system extensively, reported significant benefits from the technology, stating that it has helped him reconnect with the world, referring to the Link as a “luxury overload”.
The efficacy and safety of long-term use of Neuralink’s implant have drawn attention from the scientific community, raising questions about how the device will perform over time. Additionally, with other companies like Synchron Inc., backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, making strides in brain implant technology, competition in the BCI industry is set to intensify. It remains critical for companies like Neuralink to address concerns about the durability and reliability of their technology as advancements in this field continue to progress.