Mind Over Machine: Neuralink Patient Now Controls Tesla Optimus Robot With Thought Alone

Neuralink's Latest Milestone: A Patient Controls Robotic Arm, Offering Glimpse into Thought-Powered Autonomy

PALO ALTO, October 9, 2025 - Nick Ray, a patient living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has reportedly become the first individual to operate a robotic arm solely through a neural interface, a development that marks a substantial step toward restoring independence for those with severe motor impairments. Implanted with Neuralink's brain interface in July 2025, Ray recently demonstrated control over a Tesla Optimus robot, performing a series of daily tasks with what he describes as "almost unnoticeable" delay between thought and action.

This achievement marks a critical integration of Neuralink's brain-computer interface (BCI) technology with a humanoid robotic platform, moving beyond cursor control to tangible physical interaction. Such progress aligns with the core goals of assistive technologies: to bridge the gap created by neurological conditions and reestablish direct control over the environment for patients.

Immediate Impact on Daily Living

Ray's initial demonstrations highlight the immediate and profound effect of the technology on his everyday life. For the first time in years, he was able to:

• Don a cap independently.
• Heat food in a microwave.
• Consume food without assistance.
• Maneuver his wheelchair using the same neural interface, albeit gradually.

These actions, often taken for granted, constitute significant victories in the context of advanced ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that paralyzes voluntary muscles. One demonstration involved the robotic arm lifting a cup to Ray's mouth, enabling him to drink. Furthermore, PC Magazine reported that Ray successfully performed tasks such as opening a refrigerator, underscoring the practical utility of the interface. He also achieved notable dexterity scores in tests typically administered to stroke patients, moving 39 cylinders across a table in five minutes and manipulating five puzzle-like pegs.

CONVOY Study and Regulatory Pathway

This breakthrough is part of Neuralink's "CONVOY" study, which received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The study is evaluating the efficacy of implanted brain chips in enabling patients to perform daily tasks autonomously. Ray is identified as the eighth participant to receive the Neuralink implant, known as the N1 chip. This device, roughly the size of a 10-pence coin, employs 128 ultra-fine threads-each finer than a human hair-connecting approximately 1,000 electrodes directly to the brain's surface. These electrodes translate neural signals into Bluetooth commands, thereby facilitating the control of external devices.

Neuralink commenced its first human trials in the U.S. in 2024, following a prior rejection from the FDA in 2022 because of significant safety concerns. The company has since addressed those issues, clearing the way for the current trials involving eight individuals with severe paralysis.

Precedent and Ongoing Challenges

The initial Neuralink human-trial participant, Noland Arbaugh from Arizona, previously demonstrated the implant's capability by controlling a digital cursor and playing video games solely through thought. However, Arbaugh's experience also exposed technical vulnerabilities when nearly 85 percent of the N1 chip's fine threads detached from his brain tissue. Neuralink tackled this problem not by recalling the device but through a software-based solution, the specifics of which have not been fully disclosed. This incident highlights the continuing challenges in ensuring the long-term stability and reliability of such invasive BCI technologies.

Ray's reported experience, which includes an 8-hour workday enabled by the interface and even a "ridiculous trick shot" slated for future video releases, reinforces the potential for BCI to restore not only basic functions but also avenues for productivity and complex interactions. The integration with a general-purpose humanoid robot like the Tesla Optimus represents an expansion beyond specialized robotic arms, suggesting a future where human thought could universally interface with a range of advanced machines. The long-term implications of such direct neural control over complex robotics remain a subject of considerable scientific and ethical inquiry.

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