Two Canadian men with spinal cord injuries have become the first patients outside the United States to receive Neuralink brain implants, allowing them to control a computer cursor simply by thinking.
The procedures, carried out at Toronto Western Hospital on Aug. 27 and Sept. 3, were led by neurosurgeon Dr. Andres Lozano of the University Health Network. He said both patients, men in their 30s from Ontario and Alberta, were able to move a cursor almost immediately after surgery and were discharged the following day. Electrodes implanted in the motor region of their brains capture neuron signals, which are decoded by artificial intelligence and translated into digital commands. “They just think about it and it happens,” Lozano explained.
The implants are part of Neuralink’s first international clinical trial, testing the safety and effectiveness of Elon Musk’s wireless brain chip, first introduced in 2020 and implanted in an American patient in 2024.
Experts caution that while the technology holds enormous promise, progress will be gradual. Barry Munro of the Canadian Spinal Research Organization, who has been quadriplegic since a diving accident 38 years ago, urged “educated hope” rather than unrealistic expectations. “We ain’t there yet, that’s all,” he said, noting that early setbacks are common.
The Canadian patients will be monitored for at least a year as researchers study whether the implants are safe and whether they improve quality of life. Up to four more patients in Canada with spinal cord injuries or ALS will be enrolled. Possible risks include seizures, infections, or strokes.
For now, the men are beginning to learn how to type without touching a keyboard and are already able to play video games. Lozano said the current device is limited to a cursor, but in the future, similar technology could be used to operate a wheelchair, drive a car, or even control a robot.