Elon Musk reveals second Neuralink participant plays Counter-Strike with his mind

Musk shares latest breakthroughs by Neuralink, with participant playing games and designing 3D objects with his mind.

Elon Musk's brain-computer interface company, Neuralink, has successfully implanted a second brain chip in a human patient named Alex. 

According to a recent update, the procedure went smoothly, and Alex, who is recovering well, has already demonstrated significant progress.

Update about the second Neuralink device in a human.

If all goes well, there will be hundreds of people with Neuralinks within a few years, maybe tens of thousands within 5 years, millions within 10 years, … https://t.co/opy1xj5JgF

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 22, 2024

Living with a spinal cord injury, Alex has been able to control a computer cursor with his mind within minutes of connecting the Link device to his computer. He has also played video games like Counter-Strike 2, highlighting the technology’s potential for everyday activities. 

Additionally, Alex has started using computer-aided design (CAD) software, designing a custom mount for his Neuralink charger, which was 3D printed and integrated into his setup.

Neuralink began its first human trials in September 2023, recruiting participants with quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injuries or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) under an FDA investigational device exemption. 

In January 2024, Musk announced the successful implantation of the brain-computer interface (BCI) device, named Telepathy, in a human. The first participant, 29-year-old Noland Arbaugh, was introduced during a March 2024 livestream. In August 2024, Neuralink announced its second implanted participant, Alex.

Neuralink has emphasised its commitment to expanding the controls available to participants, with future developments aimed at enabling the Link to interact with the physical world, allowing users to control robotic arms or wheelchairs, offering greater independence to those with severe mobility impairments.