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Paralyzed at 30 — Now He Plays Chess With His Mind

Imagine controlling a computer with just your thoughts.

That’s the mission driving Neuralink — Elon Musk’s brain-implant company — which aims to restore independence to people with paralysis and, eventually, build a seamless bridge between humans and technology.

After beginning its first human trials last year, Neuralink is now inviting volunteers worldwide to take part in the next phase.

The company is seeking individuals with quadriplegia — paralysis of all four limbs — to join its patient registry and clinical trials.

How It Works
Neuralink’s N1 implant is embedded in the brain via a robot-assisted procedure. It uses over 1,000 ultra-thin electrodes to capture neuron activity and wirelessly transmit signals to external devices, enabling users to move cursors, select items, and even play games with their minds.

Progress So Far
As of early 2025, three patients have received the implant, including Noland Arbaugh, a 30-year-old who became paralyzed after a diving accident. Just weeks after the implant, he was using it to play chess and control music — tasks that had once been completely out of reach. He called the experience “life-changing.”

See this 55-second YouTube video where Arbaugh shows how Neuralink allows him to read and play chess on his laptop.

You know what really impressed me when I saw the video: Arbaugh’s positive and courageous spirit. 🤗

Will the Humanities Survive AI?

In his powerful New Yorker essay, Princeton historian D. Graham Burnett confronts a hard truth: artificial intelligence is reshaping the university — and the humanities are on the front lines.

Not because they’re outdated, but because AI now mimics what the modern humanities came to prize: analysis and interpretation.

While institutions hesitate, students are using AI in unexpected, deeply human ways — staging Socratic dialogues, exploring spiritual exercises, and debating beauty, meaning, and consciousness.

For Burnett, AI isn’t just disrupting the humanities — it’s revealing what they’ve forgotten.

The humanities — fields like literature, art, and philosophy — were never meant to be about information.They were meant to help us grapple with the questions AI can’t answer: How should I live? What really matters? What does it mean to be human?

As Burnett writes, “To be human is not to have answers. It is to have questions — and to live with them. The machines can’t do that for us. Not now, not ever.”

AI may end the old model, but it might also bring the humanities back to life. ♥️

AI Around The World:

Australia’s AI DJ fooled listeners for months—a radio station aired a daily show hosted by an AI-generated DJ, built with ElevenLabs tech. The show reached 72,000 listeners and has sparked criticism over transparency and trust in AI-generated media.

UK cracks down on harmful content with new rules—starting July, tech companies must implement strong age checks and remove dangerous material quickly. The move is part of the UK’s Online Safety Act, aimed at cleaning up the digital world for young users.

EU hits Apple and Meta with nearly $800M in fines—the EU has fined Apple and Meta a combined $797M for breaking its new Digital Markets Act. Apple restricted developers from steering users to better deals, while Meta forced users to pay or share personal data.

China pushes for self-reliance in AI—Despite US sanctions, Chinese firms like DeepSeek are gaining ground. President Xi Jinping says China must continue to build a secure, controllable AI ecosystem, and not let AI become a “game for rich countries.”