The company said the first recipient experienced implant thread retraction. Neuralink subsequently changed parts of the surgical and postoperative process and reported higher signal quality in 18 of the next 20 participants. Participants have used the system for computer access, education, art and assistive robotic-arm control, with one medical student using it for as long as 17 hours a day. Neuralink also plans to increase the electrode count from 1,000 to 3,000 and test new ways to retain the threads.
The update broadens the observable cohort but does not provide a participant-level adverse-event table, uniform follow-up periods or a statistical analysis. Neuralink reported no serious device-related adverse events, but that company statement still requires confirmation through formal long-term clinical reporting.