- Yes, Neuralink patients control computers using only their thoughts through the Telepathy product in the PRIME Study.
- Noland Arbaugh moves cursors, plays chess, and browses the web at speeds matching able-bodied users.
- UK patient Paul Hutchings controlled a computer cursor hours after his October 2025 implant surgery.
Neuralink Telepathy: The Technology Behind Thought Control
Neuralink brain implant delivers precise computer control by reading neuron signals from the motor cortex. The N1 device features 1,024 electrodes on 64 flexible threads inserted by the R1 robot. These detect action potentials as patients imagine movements, translating them into cursor actions or keystrokes via machine learning decoders.
Patients connect wirelessly to phones or computers through the Neuralink app. Initial calibration takes minutes, with performance improving daily. Bandwidth reaches over 200 bits per second, rivaling manual input. Elon Musk highlights this as a step toward human-AI symbiosis, where thoughts drive digital tools effortlessly.
As of October 31, 2025, PRIME Study participants log thousands of hours weekly on tasks like emailing and gaming. Safety remains strong, with no serious issues across implants.
Noland Arbaugh: First Patient Masters Daily Computing
Noland Arbaugh received the first human Neuralink implant in January 2024 after a diving accident caused quadriplegia. Hours post-surgery, he moved a cursor on screen. Today, Noland browses Reddit, watches YouTube, and plays online chess purely by thinking.
He set a world record for brain-computer interface cursor speed during his first session. Despite early thread retraction reducing channels by 85 percent, software updates restored full function. Noland now studies neuroscience and delivers speeches via thought control.
Elon Musk shared that Noland may receive an upgrade or second implant soon, targeting superhuman gaming speeds. This demonstrates Neuralink's reliability for long-term use.
Paul Hutchings: Instant Control in the UK
Paul Hutchings, paralyzed by motor neuron disease, became Neuralink's first UK patient in late October 2025 at University College London Hospitals. Part of the GB-PRIME Study, Paul controlled a computer cursor just hours after implantation.
Videos show his cursor gliding smoothly across screens. Paul now plays video games and handles daily tasks, reclaiming independence. This marks Neuralink's expansion beyond North America, with trials in Canada and UAE active.
Elon Musk's global push accelerates access, proving the implant works across populations immediately post-surgery.
More Patients Expand Real-World Proof
Alex, the second PRIME participant, controls computers alongside robotic arms in the CONVOY Study. He plays rock-paper-scissors with virtual hands and performs precise grasps.
ALS patient Brad edits videos, chats with AI, and races family in Mario Kart faster than eye-tracking alternatives. Veteran RJ, the fifth implant, emails and games weekly. Audrey Crews wrote her name after 20 years of paralysis. Canadian patients in Toronto joined recently, adding to over a dozen total.
Seven participants use Telepathy for 100-plus hours weekly, per updates. These examples validate Neuralink for spinal injuries and ALS.
Elon Musk Drives Trials Toward Broader Impact
Elon Musk oversees rapid iteration, from FDA approvals to international sites. October 31, 2025, updates confirm 15,000 incident-free hours. Future plans include 10,000 channels for speech decoding and Blindsight vision.
Patient Registry at neuralink.com/trials/ draws 10,000 applicants worldwide. Elon Musk envisions able-bodied use post-medical validation, ensuring equitable enhancement.
TL;DR
Neuralink patients like Noland Arbaugh and Paul Hutchings control computers with thoughts, from chess to gaming hours post-implant. PRIME Study successes across the US, UK, and Canada prove Telepathy's speed and stability, with over 15,000 hours logged. Elon Musk's leadership expands trials globally, restoring autonomy today while building toward AI symbiosis for all tomorrow.
