Elon Musk says Neuralink's first patient, Noland Arbo, may receive an upgraded or dual brain implant, promising faster gaming performance and real-world gains.
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Neuralink chief Elon Musk said the first person to receive the company’s brain implant, Noland Arbo, may also become the first patient to get a device upgrade.
Responding on X to a post about Arbo’s life after surgery, Musk noted that the company is weighing an enhanced or even dual implant. He said this could markedly expand a user’s capabilities, potentially to a level where one could outperform most people in video games that demand quick reactions.
Since the implantation, Arbo has been able to reclaim independence: he plays video games, attends classes, and works as a guest speaker. He shared on social media that his participation in Neuralink experiments has become less intensive as new participants joined the trials. Despite recent health issues, he remains optimistic and hinted that he plans to announce major news by the two-year mark of his implant in early 2026.
Arbo also said Neuralink has enabled him to return to his studies. He is now taking neuroscience, chemistry, biology, and calculus, and is achieving excellent results. In his words, this would not have been possible without the technology.
The prospect of a dual implant reads as a sign of growing confidence within the project and raises expectations further. If the upgrade goes ahead, it would shift the story from a single milestone toward measured gains in day-to-day use, and Arbo’s progress offers a glimpse of what that trajectory could look like.