Elon Musk Says Neuralink's First Patient Can Move a Computer Mouse 'By Just Thinking' The neurotech firm founder made the claims in an X Spaces on Monday.

By Jyoti Mann

Key Takeaways

  • Elon Musk claims Neuralink's first human patient can move a computer mouse by thinking.
  • The neurotech firm implanted its device into the first human patient in January.
  • Neuralink's brain-chip implant, Telepathy, was approved for human trials by the FDA last May.
NurPhoto via Business Insider
Neuralink implanted its chip in a human for the first time last month.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider.

Elon Musk said Neuralink's first human patient to receive a brain-chip implant can now move a computer mouse cursor using their mind alone.

The billionaire said the patient had fully recovered after receiving the implant last month. The neurotech firm founder made the claims in an X Spaces on Monday.

Musk said: "Progress is good, and the patient seems to have made a full recovery, with neural effects that we are aware of. Patient is able to move a mouse around the screen by just thinking."

Neuralink is also trying to give recipients the ability to move a mouse in various directions and hold a button down, Musk said. "We're trying to get as many button presses as possible from thinking, so that's what we're currently working on."

The Neuralink implant, called Telepathy, enables recipients to control their phone or computer "just by thinking", Musk said in January. The first patients and users of the device will be people "who have lost the use of their limbs."

The company has previously said its implants could allow people to complete tasks using their thoughts and help treat certain medical conditions.

Neuralink gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration last May to start human trials of its implant. The FDA initially rejected Neuralink's request last March to start human trials, Reuters reported, over concerns that included the chip possibly overheating.

Last November, Musk revealed that Neuralink is building a "vision chip" that will be ready "in a few years."

"In the future, we hope to restore capabilities such as vision, motor function, and speech, and eventually expand how we experience the world," Neuralink states on its website.

The company has not yet received regulatory approval for human trials of the vision chip.

Neuralink didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

This Couple Started a Side Hustle to Improve a 'Terribly Made' Bathroom Essential. Now the Business Earns More Than $3 Million a Year.

Michael Fine and Lisa Schulner-Fine launched lifestyle brand Quiet Town in 2016 and have been growing it ever since.

Business News

What's Open on Easter Sunday? Costco and Target Will Close, But One Major Retailer Will Be Open. Here's What To Know.

The stock market was closed for Good Friday on April 18. Here's what's closed for Easter Sunday, April 20.

Marketing

The One Mistake Is Putting Your Brand Reputation at Risk — and Most Startups Still Make It

Many businesses pour resources into branding and marketing but overlook PR — yet it's PR that builds the trust, credibility, and reputation that turn attention into lasting revenue in a crowded market.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

Here's What It Takes to Evolve From Hands-On Founder to Strategic CEO

Making the leap from founder to CEO requires more than just growth — it demands a shift in mindset.

Marketing

If You're Using ChatGPT This Way as a Marketer, You're Missing Out on Its Full Potential. Here's How to Maximize Your Results.

The real value of AI isn't in what you ask — it's in how you shape the conversation. Mastering prompt interactions means better content, sharper thinking and fewer generic outputs.