Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain-computer interface company, recently announced a milestone: an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient, using an implanted brain chip, has been able to precisely control a robotic arm to perform complex movements using only thought. In a public demonstration video, patient Nick Wray successfully used the robotic arm to pick up a cup and drink from it, marking a substantial breakthrough in restoring the functional capabilities of patients with limited mobility.
This achievement stems from Neuralink's FDA-approved "CONVOY" clinical study, which aims to test the effectiveness of implanted brain chips in assisting patients in independently completing daily tasks. As the eighth participant in three eight-hour trials, Wray not only achieved basic functions such as grasping objects and operating household appliances, but also set a record in dexterity tests, moving 39 cylinders in five minutes and completing a challenging latch flipping task. The N1 chip implanted in his brain, connected to 1,000 electrodes via 128 ultra-fine wires, converts neural signals into Bluetooth commands to directly control external devices.
It's worth noting that Neuralink's research and development journey hasn't been smooth sailing. After being rejected by the FDA in 2022 due to safety concerns, the company only received approval for human trials in 2024 after making technical improvements. The first subject, Noland Abo, demonstrated the ability to play video games with his mind, but subsequently suffered a malfunction in which 85% of the wires fell off. Neuralink resolved the issue through algorithm updates rather than hardware recalls, a strategy that proved effective again in Ray's case. Currently, Neuralink has implanted experimental chips in eight paralyzed patients in the United States and plans to expand clinical trials to the United Kingdom.
