The second Neuralink patient with a brain chip plays Counter Strike 2 using thoughts.
Elon Musk’s brain chip venture, Neuralink, has achieved significant success with its second patient. Alex, the second patient to receive the Neuralink chip, has started playing Counter-Strike 2 using only his thoughts.
Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface (BCI) venture, Neuralink, which holds great potential, conducted its second surgery just a few weeks ago. In this operation, a chip developed by the company was implanted in the brain of a second patient named Alex. It has now been announced that Alex is playing the popular competitive game Counter-Strike 2 using only his thoughts.
Thoughts become reality with Neuralink.
Equipped with Neuralink’s “Link” chip, Alex has marked a new milestone in the tech world by playing Counter-Strike 2 solely with his thoughts. After undergoing surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute last month, where the Neuralink chip was implanted in his brain, Alex quickly began using this new technology effectively. As soon as he started testing the chip, he was able to control his computer’s cursor with just his thoughts, and within a few hours, he surpassed the speed and accuracy limits of all the assistive technologies he had previously used.
In a statement from Neuralink, it was highlighted that this development represents a significant step toward providing a performance-enhancing interface for controlling digital devices, particularly for individuals who are unable to use all four limbs. On the second day after receiving the Link implant, Alex used computer-aided design (CAD) software Fusion 360 for the first time to design a custom mounting part for the Neuralink charger, which was later 3D-printed and integrated into the BCI hardware. Alex is now able to design 3D objects using CAD software, thereby enhancing his ability to work independently.
Neuralink is working with Alex to further increase his productivity with the Link by matching intended movements with different mouse click types (left, right, middle), thereby expanding the number of controls available to him. This will allow him to quickly switch between various modes in the CAD software (zoom, scroll, pan, click, and drag).
The second Neuralink patient played CS2.
Alex mastered the Link interface, breaking the previous record set by the first BCI patient, and continued to independently push the limits of the Link. Remembering Alex’s passion for gaming, Neuralink gave him the opportunity to play Counter-Strike 2 using only his brain power. Previously, Alex, who is paralyzed in all four limbs, played games using a mouth-controlled joystick called Quadstick. However, due to the limited mobility of the Quadstick, his gaming experience was restricted. Thanks to the Neuralink chip, Alex can now aim while moving in the game, greatly enhancing his gaming experience in ways that were previously impossible.
With the Link in place, Alex can simultaneously use his BCI implant and Quadstick to move and aim, providing a significantly better gaming experience. In a statement, Alex said, “Just running around is so much fun because I can look around without having to move the Quadstick… I think about where I want to look, and it goes there. It’s crazy.”
Elon Musk, in a statement on X, said, “If everything goes well, hundreds of people will have Neuralink within a few years, maybe tens of thousands within 5 years, and millions within 10 years.” In a blog update, Neuralink mentioned that Alex has experienced no health issues and that none of the problems seen in the first patient have occurred. Neuralink plans to perform surgeries on a total of 10 patients in 2024.
