The idea of the mind becoming physically integrated with the machine can be an uncomfortable concept to contemplate. The idea of embedding electrodes, chips, or anything nonbiological into the delicate workings of the brain is something that makes one feel awkward. However, Neuralink has released a live stream of a quadriplegic playing a game using an artificial brain implant they call "telepathy."

In the Twitter livestream, patient Noland Arbaugh, along with Neuralink engineers, demonstrates the changes the implant has brought to his life. Arbaugh was injured in a diving accident that dislocated his C4 and C5 vertebrae, paralyzing him from the shoulders down.

Since his telepathic implant in January, in which a brain-computer interface was surgically implanted in the area of his brain that "controls his will to move," along with a very thin thread that helps transmit signals between the two, Arbaugh has been able to control a computer cursor on a screen and play games games.

In the stream, he uses this movement to play chess, and he is also a fan of "Civilization VI," a game he used to stop playing but says the device has given him hours of enjoyment.

Although he previously had some limited control over the touchscreen by using a mouth stick, Arbaugh is grateful to the company for giving him the ability to play the game effectively again, and admits to playing Civ VI until 6:00 in the morning after receiving the implant

Newra.

Neuralink has not been far from the news since its founding in 2016. From a workplace described as a "culture of blame and fear" to truly horrific reports of animal testing cover-ups, it is perhaps not surprising that the company would want to generate a favorable reputation amidst recent controversies.

Still, it is hard not to feel an emotional tug at the significance of the event when one sees someone who has regained some of life's joys when previously it might have seemed unlikely.

Neuralink is in the early stages of clinical trials in humans after receiving approval for its first clinical trial last May. Medical trials are notoriously slow, and for very good reason.

In this regard, Elon Musk has far-reaching ideas. He once spoke of the company's long-term goals, which include "symbiosis with artificial intelligence" and "something similar to a video game, like a saved game situation, where you can resume and upload the last state."

Such a vision seems far-fetched at present, but for now, the technology appears to have some initial benefits for people with limited mobility, but more long-term testing is needed to verify the initial results.

In the meantime, as a Civ IV fan myself, I congratulate Mr. Arbaugh on his achievement and wish him many hours of turn-based fun.