Noland Arbaugh, the first human to receive Elon Musk’s Neuralink N1 brain implant has marked his 100th day with the device by sharing a detailed post on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). Arbaugh who was paralysed from the shoulders down since 2016 due to a diving accident, described the experience as “science fiction that somehow became my everyday reality.” He also recalled the as straightforward: a small incision, robotic placement of 1,024 ultra-thin threads into his motor cortex, and a quick recovery. By Day 7, his scar was fading, and he felt sharper and more positive once the brain-computer interface (BCI) was activated.
Learning to control the technology with thought
Arbaugh also revealed that by the second week he paired his impact with his first-ever Apple MacBook, moving the cursor with his thoughts after a brief calibration session. Within weeks, scrolling, clicking, and typing became second nature. “The Mac integration was buttery smooth; I went from total Mac newbie to power-user faster than I ever expected,” he wrote. By Day 80, Arbaugh was playing World of Warcraft hands-free. At first clunky, the experience soon became seamless: “I’m now raiding and exploring Azeroth at full speed — no mouse, no keyboard, just intention. The freedom is addictive.”“100 days in and I already can’t imagine life without it. The N1 didn’t just give me a new way to use a computer — it gave me a new way to live,” Arbaugh wrote, promising to continue sharing updates as the trial progresses.Neuralink’s implant remains in its clinical trial phase, but Arbaugh’s testimony offers a glimpse into how brain-computer interfaces could reshape independence for people with paralysis — and potentially redefine human-computer interaction in the years ahead.
Read Noland Arbaugh complete post here
It’s hard to believe it’s already been 100 days since I received my Neuralink N1 implant. Looking back, the whole journey feels like science fiction that somehow became my everyday reality.The surgery on Day 0 was surprisingly easy. A quick general anaesthetic, a small incision, and the robotic system did the rest — precisely placing the 1,024 ultra-thin threads into my motor cortex. I woke up alert and in good spirits and went home the next afternoon. By Day 3 I was feeling a lot better, and by Day 7 the little scar was already starting to fade. Recovery was genuinely minimal; I felt sharper and more positive than I had been in years after the BCI was turned on.The real fun started in Week 2 when we paired the implant with my brand-new Apple MacBook (my very first Mac). The @neuralinkengineers walked me through calibration sessions, and within a couple of minutes I was moving the cursor just by thinking. At first it felt like trying to remember a dream, but by Week 3 it was second nature. Scrolling, clicking, typing — all mind-controlled. The Mac integration was buttery smooth; I went from total Mac newbie to power-user faster than I ever expected.By Day 80 I was ready for the big leagues. That’s when I fired up @Warcraftof Warcraft for the first time with pure thought control. The first raid felt clunky, but once my brain and the BCI synced, it was pure magic. I’m now raiding, and exploring Azeroth hands-free at full speed — no mouse, no keyboard, just intention. It’s honestly brilliant. The freedom is addictive.The social-media side has been just as surprising. Every update I’ve shared has been met with genuine excitement rather than scepticism. Thousands of messages from people with disabilities, gamers, students, and scientists — all asking real questions about the tech and what it could mean for the future. The positivity has been overwhelming and incredibly motivating.100 days in and I already can’t imagine life without it. The N1 didn’t just give me a new way to use a computer — it gave me a new way to live. Can’t wait to see what the next 100 days bring.Thank you all so much for your support and I will keep you all updated as we continue this journey together.
