Eighteen months after becoming the first recipient of Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain implant, 31-year-old Noland Arbaugh has shared how the breakthrough technology has reshaped his daily life, giving him independence, purpose, and new opportunities.
Arbaugh, paralysed from the shoulders down after a 2016 swimming accident, underwent pioneering surgery in 2024 in which a robotic system implanted Neuralink’s coin-sized brain-computer interface (BCI). The device links over a thousand ultrafine electrodes to neurons, decoding brain signals into digital commands. Using only his thoughts, Arbaugh can control a computer cursor, type, operate household electronics, and even play video games. He reports using the system for up to 10 hours daily to study, read, and engage in leisure activities.
The technology has enabled Arbaugh to enrol at a community college in Arizona, explore business ventures, and take on paid speaking engagements. “I feel like I have potential again,” he told Fortune, reflecting on how the implant restored his sense of direction and personal ambition.
The journey has not been without setbacks. Soon after implantation, several electrode threads retracted from brain tissue, causing a loss of functionality. Neuralink engineers later recalibrated the system, recovering most of its performance. Arbaugh chose not to disclose the complication initially to avoid undermining confidence in the project during its early phase.
Despite the risks, Arbaugh says the implant has given him control and motivation he had lacked since his accident. “Even if it hadn’t worked—or if something went terribly wrong—I knew it would help someone down the road,” he said. Jokingly, he calls himself a “cyborg,” though he still considers himself “a regular guy.”
Neuralink, founded by Musk in 2016, is one of several companies advancing BCIs, a technology still limited to experimental trials but showing immense promise. Arbaugh’s experience underscores both the transformative potential and technical challenges of merging human cognition with digital systems.
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