Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons. These nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements. As the disease progresses, patients lose the ability to control their muscles, leading to speech impairment, difficulty swallowing, loss of mobility, and ultimately, the inability to breathe independently.
Last week, Smith posted a video on YouTube showing how his brain implant helps him in his everyday life. For example, the brain-computer interface allows him to control the mouse on his MacBook Pro and edit videos using just his thoughts. He claims this is the first video edited using Neuralink technology or a similar interface.
The implant, placed in Smith's motor cortex, is about the size of five folded coins and contains over a thousand electrodes. Neuralink doesn't constantly read thoughts, but rather recognizes brain signals indicating how and where the patient wants to move the cursor on the screen.
At first, Smith tried controlling the cursor by imagining his hand movements. But eventually, he found it more convenient to think about moving his tongue and clenching his jaw—this way he controls the cursor and performs virtual mouse clicks.
The video's voiceover was synthesized using Smith's voice, recreated using artificial intelligence. The AI was trained on old recordings of the man still able to speak.
In a video hosted by reporter and Elon Musk biographer Ashlee Vance, Neuralink's CEO called Smith and expressed hope that the neurochip would dramatically change his life and that of his family. Smith, in turn, expressed his joy at being able to abandon his gaze control, which he said only worked in the dark, and would now be able to communicate outdoors and in any light. He also noted that the implant allows him to play Mario Kart with his children.
