The device is still in clinical trials.
People implanted with Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain chip can now move robotic arms using only their thoughts, as the device moves beyond allowing people to control computers and smartphones.
In a video posted on X, Neuralink patient Rocky Stoutenburgh – who was paralysed in 2006 – demonstrated his ability to move a robotic arm using his mind, bringing the limb to his face and kissing it.
“Participants in our clinical trials have extended digital computer control to physical devices such as assistive robotic arms,” Neuralink said on X, which is also owned by Musk.
“Over time, we plan to expand the range of devices controllable via Neuralink.”
Neuralink launched to help paralysed people use their personal devices and regain some mobility using only their thoughts. It connects a person’s nervous system to a device known as a brain-computer interface (BCI), which can interpret their brain activity.
The device is still in clinical trials, testing the implant’s initial safety and functionality in people with specific medical conditions that limit their mobility.
As of September, Neuralink had implanted its device in 12 people since January 2024. The first participant was a man who was paralysed after a spinal cord injury, and the implant made it possible for him to play video games and chess.
Other participants have had spinal cord injuries or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which over time affects people’s ability to move their arms, legs, and body.
Musk said more than 10,000 people have signed up for Neuralink’s patient registry, hoping to participate in trials for the device.
Neuralink is one of several companies working on BCIs. Other studies are exploring their use for people with cerebral palsy, dementia, stroke, and other health issues, according to a US clinical trials database.
