Elon Musk Announces Second Successful Neuralink Implant

Tesla and Space X founder Elon Musk revealed that a second person has received a Neuralink implant, calling the procedure a success. Speaking on a podcast with Lex Fridman, Musk said:

"I don't want to jinx it, but it seems to have gone extremely well with the second implant. There's a lot of signal, a lot of electrodes. It's working very well."

A Simple Procedure with Gigantic Next Steps

Neurosurgeon Matthew MacDougall, who joined Musk on the podcast, described the surgery as "a really simple, straightforward procedure." MacDougall explained that the surgery involves cutting the skin on the top of the head, exposing the "hand knob," an area of the brain that lights up during finger movements. Surgeons then use a Neuralink robot to insert tiny electrodes into the cortex before sealing the implant. The whole process takes a few hours.

According to Neuralink's website, their brain-computer interface is "fully implantable, cosmetically invisible, and designed to let you control a computer or mobile device anywhere you go." Musk teased the next steps for the company, predicting dramatic increases in electrode numbers and improved signal processing.

A Lif changing Experience for Implat Recipients

The first Neuralink implant was given to 30-year-old Noland Arbaugh, a quadriplegic who received the implant earlier this year. Arbaugh told Bloomberg in May that the device improved his life, helping him play video games, chess, and surf the internet. "Once you get a taste for using it, you just can't stop," he said.

The second implantation was postponed in June due to the patient's unspecified medical condition. Like Arbaugh, the second recipient also has a spinal cord injury, according to Musk.

What's Next for Neuralink?

With two successful implantations, Neuralink appears to be gaining momentum. Musk's predictions of improved technology and increased electrode counts hint at a promising future for the company. However, as with any new medical procedure, there are sure to be challenges and obstacles ahead.

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