Thought Control? Neuralink’s Brain Chip Makes Sci-Fi Real

A paralyzed man thinking his way through a game of chess with no physical movement—this is no science fiction moment. It’s the reality sparked by Neuralink Corporation’s first human brain chip implant, a milestone that may reshape how humans and machines interact.

In January 2024, Elon Musk’s neurotech company implanted its “Telepathy” brain-computer interface (BCI) device into Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old quadriplegic paralyzed in a 2016 diving accident. Weeks later, Arbaugh wowed the world by moving a computer cursor and playing games solely with his mind. During his live demonstration, Arbaugh declared that this technology would transform his life. The Guardian published his story under the headline “Real-time neural decoding achieves breakthrough”