Neuralink has fixed an initial setback, writing that a small malfunction seen with the brain chip no longer impacts a patient's ability to use a computer.

Despite the retraction of some threads, Arbaugh continues to use the Neuralink BCI system for approximately eight hours per day throughout weekdays and up to ten hours per day on weekends, as mentioned in the blog post.

Neuralink’s first human brain implant has suffered a major problem, as some of the chip’s connection threads have begun to retract from the brain. The Elon Musk-owned company has made waves in the news and science communities thanks to what they’re touting as a successful human brain chip implant.

The first Neuralink implant in a human patient has partially detached from the patient’s brain weeks after it was implanted. In a blog post, Neuralink stated that the patient, Noland Arbaugh, was doing well following his surgery in January 2024 but that several threads in his implant had partially detached from his brain.

The first human Neuralink implant recipient is playing Slay the Spire, Old School RuneScape, and a range of other popular games by using the implant to translate his neural signals. Elon Musk’s neurotechnology company also revealed in a new update that a number of the implant’s electrode-bearing threads had retracted from the patient’s brain,

Despite the partial retraction, the patient was still able to use the implant to play chess on a computer using his thoughts.