Paralyzed patient reveals incredible abilities after receiving Neuralink chip

A paralyzed US military veteran is able to play video games, control electronics, and even design 3D objects by using only his thoughts thanks to a coin-sized chip implanted in his brain and backed by tech magnate Elon Musk.

RJ, a quadriplegic who lost use of his limbs following a devastating motorcycle accident, is the first patient at a Miami hospital to be fitted with the ‘Telepathy’ device, developed by Musk’s brain-interface company Neuralink. 

The surgical milestone was completed earlier this year at UHealth Tower, the flagship hospital of the University of Miami Health System. RJ is one of just seven people nationwide to have received the trip.

‘I think my favorite thing is probably being able to turn on my TV,’ RJ said during a  video presentation by Neuralink.

‘Like the first time in two and a half years I was able to do that. So that was pretty sweet.’

But RJ’s abilities now extend far beyond the remote control. Thanks to the chip embedded in the part of his brain that controls movement, he can operate a computer with nothing more than brain signals.

That includes shooting zombies in Call of Duty, driving around in Mario Kart, and even designing complex mechanical parts in Fusion 360, a professional CAD program.

‘That’s what’s up,’ RJ said. ‘Pretty sweet. ‘I like shooting zombies. That’s kind of nice.’

RJ, a quadriplegic who lost use of his limbs following a motorcycle accident, is the first patient at a Miami hospital to be fitted with the ‘Telepathy’ device, developed by Elon Musk’s brain-interface company Neuralink

Musk has previously said Neuralink could one day help restore vision, enable speech in those who have lost it, or allow amputees to control prosthetic limbs with thought alone

The implant was performed by Dr. Jonathan Jagid, a neurosurgeon and clinical professor at the University of Miami, working with The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.

The world-renowned center was founded after football legend Nick Buoniconti’s son, Marc, was paralyzed in a 1985 game.

‘This device is completely invisible to anybody else that interacts with somebody who has it implanted,’ Dr. Jagid said in an interview. 

‘What makes it very unique is how it’s been miniaturized. It’s a very small device – about the size of a coin.’

The Telepathy chip was embedded using a surgical robot developed by Neuralink.

The machine implants more than 60 ultra-thin threads, thinner than a human hair, into the brain to detect neural activity. 

Those brain signals are then wirelessly transmitted to a computer, where software decodes them into commands that can move a mouse, play a video game, or operate other devices.

‘The surgery went perfect,’ Jagid told the Miami Herald. RJ was discharged just one day later.

Elon Musk co‑founded Neuralink in 2016 and personally invested at least $100 million, and remains its largest individual shareholder. He is seen chatting with doctors last month

After a catastrophic accident, Noland Arbaugh became the first person in the country to receive the implant trip

Neuralink’s Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) allows for direct communication between the brain and external devices, like a computer or smartphone

For RJ, the Neuralink device has done more than give him control over his environment and begun to restore his sense of being.

‘They’re giving me my spark back… my drive back. They’ve given me my purpose back,’ he said in a written statement.

RJ now identifies himself as ‘P5’ – the fifth human being in the world to be implanted with the chip since Neuralink received FDA approval for clinical trials in 2024. 

The first patient, Noland Arbaugh, received his implant at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.

Musk’s team believes this is just the beginning.

‘It’s been an incredible amount of progress,’ Musk said during Neuralink’s June 27 update. 

He emphasized the company’s cautious approach saying, ‘The reason we’re not moving faster than we are is because we’re taking great care with each individual to make sure we never miss – and so far, we haven’t.’

Neuralink co-founder and president DJ Seo added that RJ is among seven patients currently enrolled in the trial. 

Each one has either a spinal cord injury or ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis. 

All the patients are testing whether the Link can allow the brain to communicate directly with technology – without muscles, nerves, or even speech. 

RJ is the fifth person in the country to receive the implant and the first to do so in Miami through the University of Miami’s cutting-edge paralysis program

Elon Musk is seen alongside the doctors and scientists at University of Miami Health System

At Neuralink’s summer presentation, video clips showed patients, including RJ, using their minds to move cursors, select icons, and play games. 

In one moment that drew cheers from the audience, a participant broke a world record by using thought alone to navigate a cursor at unprecedented speed.

‘These are people that can’t even move a mouse,’ Dr. Jagid said. ‘So you have to understand, in its early stages, it’s been really successful – allowing them to accomplish goals they could not otherwise accomplish.’

But beyond video games and virtual design, the implications are profound.

Musk has previously said Neuralink could one day help restore vision, enable speech in those who have lost it, or allow amputees to control prosthetic limbs with thought alone.

RJ is already pushing the boundaries. During a group discussion with other chip recipients, he described modifying a quad stick – a specialized joystick for quadriplegics – and writing code to control a remote-controlled truck and plane.

‘With the BCI, I wrote code to drive the plane with the quad stick,’ he said. ‘That’s awesome.’

The Miami Project’s president, Marc Buoniconti, called the trial ‘another significant step in finding meaningful solutions for the millions living with paralysis and other significant motor deficits.’

The procedure is minimally invasive, and the implant is placed by a specially designed robot

His own experience as a quadriplegic whose injury helped launch one of the most respected spinal injury centers in the world adds weight to his praise. 

‘We hope this partnership leads to life-changing breakthroughs,’ he told The Miami Herald.

Neuralink is continuing to enroll patients between ages 22 and 75 who are paralyzed due to cervical spinal cord injury or ALS.

The company has also received approval to launch similar trials in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.

Despite the excitement, not everyone is ready to declare victory.

‘This is uncharted territory,’ Dr. Jagid cautioned. ‘But that’s expected with any new technology.’