Latest news with #Neurolink
Fox News
29-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Paralyzed man with ALS is third to receive NeuraLink implant, can type with brain
Brad Smith — an Arizona husband and father with ALS — has become the third person to receive Neuralink, the brain implant made by Elon Musk's company. He is also the first ALS patient and the first non-verbal person to receive the implant, he shared in a post on X on Sunday. "I am typing this with my brain. It is my primary communication," Smith, who was diagnosed with in 2020, wrote in the post, which was also shared by Musk. He went on to thank Musk. Smith — who is completely paralyzed and relies on a ventilator to breathe — created a video using the brain-computer interface (BCI) to control the mouse on his MacBook Pro, he stated. "This is the first video edited with the Neurolink, and maybe the first edited with a BCI," he said. "Neuralink has given me freedom, hope and faster communication." The video was narrated by Smith's "old voice," he said, which was cloned by artificial intelligence from recordings before he lost the use of his voice. "I want to explain how Neuralink has impacted my life and give you an overview of how it works," he said. ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to The ALS Association. Over time, the disease impairs muscle control until the patient becomes paralyzed. ALS is ultimately fatal, with an average life expectancy of three years — although 10% of patients can survive for 10 years and 5% live 20 years or longer. It does not impact cognitive function. Neuralink, which is about 1.75 inches thick, was implanted in Smith's motor cortex, the part of the brain that controls body movement. The implanted device captures neuron firings in the brain and sends a raw signal to the computer. "AI processes this data on a connected MacBook Pro to decode my intended movements in real time to move the cursor on my screen," Smith said. "Neuralink has given me freedom, hope and faster communication," he added. "It has improved my life so much. I am so happy to be involved in something big that will help many people." Smith is also a man of faith, sharing that he believes God has put him in this position to serve others. "I have not always understood why God afflicted me with ALS, but with time, I am learning to trust His plan for me," he said. "God loves me and my family. He has answered our prayers in unexpected ways. He has blessed my kids and our family. So I'm learning to trust that God knows what he is doing." Smith also said he is grateful that he gets to work with the "brilliant people" at Neuralink and do "really interesting work." "Don't get me wrong, ALS still really sucks, but I am talking about the big picture," he said. "The big picture is, I am happy." Dr. Mary Ann Picone, medical director of the MS Center at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, applauded Neuralink's capabilities. "This is an amazing development that now the third person to use Neuralink has gained the ability with the use of AI to type with neural thoughts," Picone, who was not involved in Smith's care, told Fox News Digital. "The now-realized potential of Neuralink is to allow patients with quadriplegia to control computers and mobile devices with their thoughts." There are some risks involved with the implant, Picone noted, including surgical infection, bleeding and damage to the underlying brain tissue. "But the benefits are that patients who are paralyzed would have the potential to restore personal control over the limbs by using their thoughts," she said. Dr. Peter Konrad, MD, PhD, chairman of the department of neurosurgery at WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute in West Virginia, called Neuralink a "remarkable demonstration of the power of AI-driven technology." "Mr. Smith is an incredible hero for those who are severely disabled from diseases such as ALS," Konrad, who also was not involved in Smith's care, told Fox News Digital. "Mr. Smith is an incredible hero for those who are severely disabled from disease such as ALS." Konrad also spoke of the advancements that have occurred since the past generations of BCI technology. "It is encouraging to see faster progress being made with neural devices reaching clinical trials in the past five to 10 years," he said. "However, we are still awaiting development of a BCI device that does not require a team of engineers and experts to customize each and every severely disabled patient with this technology." "For every Brad Smith out there, there are hundreds of thousands of other disabled patients awaiting access to this technology. This video demonstrates the safety of these types of devices — now it's time to provide larger access to these devices through a new generation of educated physicians, engineers and manufacturers able to deploy this technology."
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Liberals loved Musk until he helped Trump. Now they're destroying Teslas.
I find it disgusting and hypocritical that liberal activists and troublemakers are now damaging or destroying Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations across the nation. Of course, they are doing it because Elon Musk has signed on to help President Donald Trump eliminate "waste, fraud and abuse" in the federal government, which I believe is a good thing for all of us. Musk has done numerous things to try and help save and improve people's lives. For example, he provided satellites to help Ukraine in its war efforts against Russia and also helped the desperate people and law enforcement communicate in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. His company, Neurolink, is developing brain chip implants to help blind people see again and eventually people with spinal cord injuries to walk again. They have implanted three chips to date. Musk also has a company called "The Boring Co.," which drills tunnels to help with traffic congestion, and they are currently boring a tunnel under Las Vegas. He's heavily involved in artificial intelligence, which might some day help find a cure for cancer and other deadly diseases. His company, SpaceX, recently brought our stranded astronauts home from space. Elon Musk was a hero to the left until he started helping Trump, and then they turned on him. How many more pounds of flesh do you sick people want? Richard Davis, Walton, Ky. More: 'Stop Musk!' Cincinnati federal workers oppose job cuts at Tesla rally Although the recent vandalization at Tesla dealerships is very troubling, the peaceful picketing of those businesses is certainly protected under the law and is in response to Elon Musk's callous actions through DOGE. Americans are understandably furious and dismayed with Musk's actions, which have resulted in the loss of jobs, medical benefits and possibly cuts in Social Security. Opinion: Elon Musk and tech bros break everything and never look back President Donald Trump's power grab and dismissal of the average working person is nothing short of cruel. He and his fellow Republicans will be remembered for these actions and will go down in history as the party that did not care for the people. We need a collective awakening to stand up to these bullies before our way of life is changed forever. Janet Christoff, Highland Heights, Ky. Tesla was and still is overpriced and is bound to crash and burn. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is better at destroying companies than any Molotov-cocktail-throwing liberal. X, formerly known as Twitter, is worth nearly 80% less than when Musk bought it, according to investment giant Fidelity. Now, it's Tesla's turn. Tesla's market value recently dropped below $1 trillion for the first time since the November 2024 election, as sales slumped. Musk won't do any better at balancing the federal budget. He's cutting funds without the least understanding of what they're spent for. He's cut funds that help feed children and provide health care for poor people. He's cut funds for the Veteran's Administration. In short, he's using the same strategy he used to destroy Twitter and Tesla on the federal government, and the outcome will be the same. As for actually burning Tesla cars, are we sure it's the work of liberals? Maybe it's the Steve Bannon wing of the Republican Party, who hates Musk as much as any liberal. Haven't you heard Bannon saying that "Musk is a parasitic illegal immigrant. He wants to impose his freak experiments and play-act as God without any respect for the country's history, values or traditions." Added to this, the Bannon cohorts have a lot of experience with destruction − take the U.S. Capitol riots, for example, or democracy. Chris Bruck, Alexandria, Ky. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Musk's only offense was siding with Trump. Why burn Teslas? | Letters
Observer
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Observer
From democracy to technocracy: The rise of the dark enlightenment
Like a bird in the palm of a child — unaware of its suffering — Europe finds itself trapped by the whims of the current US administration. This imagery, drawn from the ancient Arab poet Qais Ibn Al Mulawwah, captures the fragile state of global democracy today. At the heart of this crisis lies the rise of the Dark Enlightenment movement, a radical ideology threatening to reverse centuries of democratic progress. The Dark Enlightenment, also known as the 'Neo-Reactionary Movement' (NRx), emerged in the early 2000s through the writings of Curtis Yarvin, who wrote under the pseudonym Mencius Moldbug. Yarvin and his followers argue that democracy is inherently flawed and advocate for a return to authoritarian governance led by a technocratic elite. Once confined to obscure Internet forums, this ideology now influences mainstream politics and figures with significant global reach — including US President Donald Trump and techofeudalists like Elon Musk of Starlink and Neurolink, and Peter Thiel of the genocide enabling software company Palantir. Far from being an abstract intellectual exercise, the Dark Enlightenment is already reshaping global politics. In the US, this movement fuels a bullying-based foreign policy that pressures and undermines its allies. Europe is a prime example, as it struggles with growing US economic and political coercion. This influence extends beyond America's borders, shaping political landscapes in ways that challenge democratic norms and foster authoritarian tendencies. The recent German elections illustrate this trend. With a voter turnout nearing 84 per cent, the conservative Christian Democrats Union (CDU) claimed victory, while a far-right, xenophobic party surged into second place. This shift reflects broader European anxieties — rising living costs, immigration and integration challenges, unemployment, and the complexities of the energy transition. The Dark Enlightenment's message, amplified by Eurocentrism's exploitation of fear and distrust, has emboldened manipulative far-right movements and deepened social divides. Europe's historical contributions to the modern world — ranging from the nation-state model to the values of the French Revolution — have long made it a symbol of cultural and political progress. The honesty of the Dutch, the creativity of Italians, the warmth of Spanish culture, the precision of Germans and the hospitality of Eastern Europeans all reflect a continent rich in diversity and innovation. Yet, Europe's legacy is also marred by the darker chapters of colonialism and world wars — reminders of how quickly societies can descend into chaos. Learning from these lessons is essential to prevent a repeat of history. The Dark Enlightenment poses a direct challenge to these hard-earned values. By advocating for the concentration of power in the hands of a manipulative elite, it seeks to dismantle the democratic ideals of mutual respect, equality, and shared governance. Its proponents argue that modern societies are too complex for the general public to manage — a dangerously regressive view that risks undermining the freedoms that define decent life. Addressing this threat requires global awareness and collective action. Education is the first line of defence — understanding the ideological underpinnings of the Dark Enlightenment and recognising its manifestations in policy and rhetoric. Beyond awareness, there is an urgent need for civic engagement: speaking out against injustice and defending democratic institutions. Only through collective awareness can we preserve the values that sustain a just and equitable society. The world is more interconnected than ever, and the consequences of inaction will be felt across every region. For the Sultanate of Oman and the GCC, the spread of unilateralistic ideologies could disrupt the delicate balance between modernisation and cultural heritage. A weakening of global democratic norms might embolden external powers to exert greater influence over the region's political and economic landscapes. Furthermore, as energy transitions accelerate, the region's economic stability hinges on maintaining cooperative, rules-based international frameworks. If the Dark Enlightenment's ethos of unilateralism prevails, the GCC's ability to navigate global markets and preserve sovereign decision-making could be severely compromised. As a believer in our shared duty to defend what is right, I call on every individual to take meaningful action. Let us not be like the child who smothers the bird out of ignorance. Instead, let us be the guardians of freedom — ensuring that democracy, like the bird, can soar once again. The challenge is formidable, but in unity lies our strength and the promise of a brighter future. The writer is an innovator and an insights storyteller
