Third individual with ALS, equipped with Neuralink brain implant, maintains communication abilities
Take a look at this mind-blowing feat by Elon Musk's Neuralink! In a groundbreaking livestream on March 20, a patient with an implanted brain-chip controlled a computer and even played chess - all through the power of his mind. (Credit: Reuters)
Meet the third human test subject in Neuralink's revolutionary brain implant program, who just so happens to have non-verbal ALS. Thanks to the magic of Neuralink and AI, he's now able to speak for himself again! Brad Smith, in a remarkable video on X, shares his gratitude to the heavens, stating happily that "even though having ALS sucks, life is good."
You may recall Neuralink, the brainchild of tech genius Elon Musk, unveiled early this year that there are three humans with superhuman "Telepathy," including "Brad." These individuals, each suffering from either spinal cord injury or ALS, took part in Neuralink's PRIME Study, a clinical trial testing the Link's safety and usefulness in the day-to-day lives of those living with paralysis.
Neuralink Breakthrough: Telepathic Chess Player
Paralyzed and unable to move any part of his body, except for the corners of his mouth and eyes, Brad Smith now depends on the Neuralink implant to communicate. In the video he shared on X, Smith described how he controlled the computer and made the video using Neuralink's Brain Computer Interface (BCI) to guide the cursor on his MacBook Pro. The voice in the clip is his very own, thanks to AI technology cloning his previous voice recordings before he lost his natural speech.
In the video, Smith walked his viewers through the incredible capabilities of Neuralink, explaining how the technology works as well as sharing his journey with ALS and the hope he found after the implant procedure.
"I have ALS, a disease that attacks the motor neurons, leaving me unable to move but fortunately preserving my mind," Smith said. "My experience with ALS has been fascinating, beginning with a shoulder injury that refused to heal, ultimately leading to my current state. I can move only my eyes, and I'm completely reliant on a ventilator."
Mind-Blowing Impact on SMITH's Life
Smith explained how Neuralink has transformed his life, letting him leave his dark, eye-gaze controlled computer room and enjoy life outside, even if lighting conditions change.
An image of the implant device showed a gadget approximately the size of five US quarters stacked. It had replaced a hole in Smith's skull and was fitted with threads reaching just a few millimeters into his brain by a robot, carefully avoiding blood vessels to minimize bleeding.
Once connected, the device communicated with a computer via Bluetooth, with the computer performing most of the processing, according to Smith. He then presented a video illustrating the data from the 1,024 electrodes in his brain, demonstrating the groundbreaking technology that grants him freedom in communication and computing.
Even though ALS is still a challenge for Smith, he expressed his happiness, shouting out the accomplishments he has been able to achieve and the positive impact Neuralink has made in his life. Furthermore, Smith emphasized his pride in being part of a project that has the power to help millions of people like himself.
"I'm learning to trust that God knows what he's doing," Smith concluded, looking lovingly at his wife Tiffany and children. "I'm happy. Tiffany is the greatest person I've ever known, and I get to spend eternity with her. My kids are doing well, especially considering the circumstances. And I can control the computer with thoughts. Life is good."
- Neuralink's brain-chip, implanted in a startup named 'Brad Smith' who has non-verbal ALS, has enabled him to control a computer and even play chess, all through thoughts, as shown in a livestreamed video.
- Smith, one of the three human test subjects in Neuralink's revolutionary brain implant program, was able to speak again with the help of AI technology, which cloned his previous voice recordings.
- Smith shared his gratitude for the Neuralink technology in a video on platform X, stating that while ALS has been difficult, life is still good due to Neuralink's Brain Computer Interface (BCI).
- Neuralink, created by tech genius Elon Musk, is a revolutionary technology that uses 1,024 electrodes to communicate with a computer, transforming the lives of people like Smith with paralysis.
- Technology like Neuralink has the potential to positively impact millions of people affected by neurological disorders and medical-conditions, such as ALS.
- Smith's journey and experiences, as communicated through Neuralink's BCI, demonstrate the groundbreaking advancements technology can make in health-and-wellness and the research on science and medical-conditions.
