Neuralink Patient Says He Designed 3D-Printed Parts Entirely With His Brain Implant

Alex Conley, one of the first patients to receive a Neuralink brain implant, says he has now designed physical products using nothing but his thoughts.

"I designed these three parts entirely with my Neuralink, then watched them come off the 3D printer," Conley wrote on X, showing off a sunglasses rack, an RC controller case, and a custom cubby for his tire machine. He tagged Neuralink and Barrow Neurological Institute, where he is part of the brain-computer interface trial.

Conley, who was injured in a spinal cord accident, was featured by Barrow earlier this year as he began reclaiming independence with a Neuralink-controlled robotic arm. The implant lets trial patients control a computer cursor and on-screen tools by thought alone; the 3D printer did the physical printing.

Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, began its first human implants in 2024 and says its trial patients have steadily expanded what they can do with the interface, from gaming to design software.

(File Photo) Elon Musk unveils Neuralink's plans. Photo: Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0.