Join Brad Smith, the third person globally and the first nonverbal ALS patient to receive the Neuralink brain implant, as he shares his groundbreaking journey.
Using Neuralink’s brain-computer interface (BCI), Brad controls his MacBook Pro to edit and narrate this video with his AI-cloned voice. Discover how Neuralink transforms his life, enabling faster communication and freedom from eye-gaze technology. Learn about the implant’s functionality, training process, and tools like Webgrid, virtual keyboard, and the innovative “parking spot” feature. Brad also discusses his faith, family, and hope for others with ALS. Don’t miss this inspiring story of technology and resilience! Subscribe for more Neuralink updates and ALS stories. #Neuralink #BCI #ALS #BrainImplant #Technology
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In this inspiring YouTube video, Brad Smith, the third recipient of the Neuralink brain implant and the first nonverbal person with ALS, showcases the life-changing impact of this technology. Diagnosed with ALS, a disease that destroys motor neurons while leaving the mind intact, Brad lost all muscle control except his eyes and relies on a ventilator. Previously, he used eye-gaze technology for communication, which was limited to dark rooms. Neuralink’s implant, placed in his motor cortex, allows him to control a MacBook Pro cursor via brain signals, freeing him to communicate outdoors and in varying lighting.
Brad demonstrates how he created and edited this video—the first known to be edited using a BCI—using Neuralink to move the cursor and an AI-cloned version of his pre-ALS voice for narration. The implant, the size of five stacked quarters, contains 1024 electrodes that capture neuron firings every 15 milliseconds. AI processes these signals to decode intended movements, moving the cursor in real-time. Unlike reading thoughts, Neuralink interprets movement intentions, which Brad trained using tongue movements for cursor control and jaw clenching for clicking, after hand-based training proved less effective.
He explains tools like Webgrid, a Neuralink benchmark for measuring cursor accuracy, where he achieved a score of five (up from less than one with eye-gaze). Other tools include a virtual keyboard with word suggestions, a custom keypad for shortcuts (e.g., copy, paste), and a “parking spot” feature Brad requested to pause the cursor for watching videos or resting. The mixer tool adjusts cursor drift, speed, friction, smoothing, and click stiffness, compensating for the brain’s constant changes—insights gained from human trials, unlike monkey tests.
Brad also highlights a Neuralink-developed chat app using Grok 3 AI, which suggests context-based responses in his cloned voice, keeping him engaged in conversations. For example, it humorously suggested gifting carrots to a horse-loving friend’s girlfriend. He’s exploring a new keyboard layout for faster typing, with a training app built using Grok’s guidance, despite having no coding experience.
Neuralink has given Brad freedom, hope, and faster communication, surpassing his previous limitations. He shares how ALS, though devastating, has deepened his faith, strengthened his bond with his wife, Tiffany, and led him to Neuralink’s Arizona site after a spiritual prompting. Brad sees his role as serving others, inspired by Noland, the first Neuralink recipient. He expresses gratitude for his family, his work with Neuralink’s team, and God’s unexpected blessings, affirming that life remains good despite ALS.
Bradford Smith
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