"I'm Using The Force": Musk's Brain Chip Allows Paralyzed Man To Play Civilization VI

Elon Musk's Neuralink Corp. broadcasted a live stream on X featuring the first patient to receive its brain-computer implant, a 29-year-old man with quadriplegia. This groundbreaking procedure enables him to operate a computer cursor using thoughts, allowing him to play online video games. 

In a nine-minute presentation, Neuralink engineer Bliss Chapman introduced the patient, Noland Arbaugh, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a "freak diving accident" eight years ago. 

"I'm paralyzed below the shoulders. I have no sensation or movement below my level on injury," Arbaugh said.

Chapman shows how Arbaugh uses his mind to move a cursor around a screen to play a game of chess.

It feels like "I'm using the Force on a cursor," Arbaugh said, referring to the movie Star Wars. 

In a post on X, Musk reposted the Neuralink broadcast, commenting: "Livestream of Neuralink demonstrating "Telepathy" – controlling a computer and playing video games just by thinking."

In January, Musk posted on X that the first patient received the brain chip implant, specifying that the person was recovering well. Since then, Arbaugh has learned to play Civilization VI with his mind-controlled cursor.

Even though brain-computer interface research has existed for decades, there's been a more recent push by billionaires, including Musk, to invest in the technology and further develop it. 

Neuralink is powered by a quarter-sized chip implanted in the skull with electrodes inserted into the brain. 

"It's not perfect. We have run into some issues," said Arbaugh without specifying them, adding the device has changed his life. 

Musk also said the device may be able to restore vision: "Blindsight is the next product after Telepathy." 

Rockets, electric vehicles, brain chips, space internet, and tunnels, what else is the billionaire planning for civilization?