While we have heard a lot about Elon Musk’s supposed superpowers, Neuralink Project can turn on, it hits differently when you see it working in a game. Musk’s current chip-on-brain testing project (“PRIME”) has had two participants so far, and it looks like the second one wasted no time in making the jump to PC gaming.
Neuralink’s “Link” is a brain-computer interface (BCI) — a device that is surgically implanted into the brain and is designed to allow digital devices to be controlled using neural activity, i.e. thought. According to the latest Neuralink PRIME Study Progress UpdateAlex, the second participant, was not only quick apply of the Link to 3D printing projects in CAD Fusion 360 software, but he also used it for play Counter Strike 2.
Alex uses Link literally think where he needs to go in the game, and the game will take him there.
This is more than just extravagant luxury, as Alex has a spinal cord injury that makes it arduous for him to apply digital devices. The Neuralink update tells us that Alex previously used a mouth-operated device called Quadstickbut it only has one joystick.
Now, with Link, he can “move and aim simultaneously, unlocking a more intuitive gameplay experience.” This certainly unlocks the entire world of FPS games as well, making them incredibly playable.
This appears to be what Musk is aiming for as well. It was already found in MayThe goal is to “provide an efficient interface that improves the control of digital devices for people with tetraplegia, unleashing their personal and professional potential.”
And the aim of the PRIME study is specifically to “evaluate the initial functionality of our BCI with the aim of enabling people with tetraplegia to control external devices with their thoughts.”
The solution worked for the first participant (apart from some issues with disconnecting the BCI) and it looks like it will work for the second as well.
Now look, I am the last person anyone needs to warn about the dangers of transhumanism and connecting our brains to computers. Trust me, my alarm bells are ringing louder than ever.
But even I can’t shake the feeling that brain-computer interfaces, at least for now, within this particular project, could be put to good apply — more than good, considering it’s a truly noble cause and is producing some amazing, game-changing results.
