The Power Of The Mind: Paralyzed Woman Writes After 20 Years With Elon Musk's Chip
- Lidi Garcia
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
Audrey Crews, paralyzed for over 20 years, was able to write her name with just her thoughts thanks to a brain chip from Elon Musk's company Neuralink. The device, implanted in her brain, allows her to control a computer with her mind. The technology is still in the testing phase, but represents a promising advance in giving more autonomy to people with paralysis.
A woman named Audrey Crews, who has been paralyzed for over 20 years, recently achieved something extraordinary: writing her name again, using only her thoughts. This was possible thanks to a brain chip developed by Elon Musk's company, Neuralink, which creates technologies that directly connect the human brain to computers.
Audrey lost the ability to use her body at age 16, and now, at 36, she is the first woman in the world to receive this revolutionary implant. The device, the size of a coin, was surgically inserted into her skull.
Audrey Crews became a quadriplegic 20 years ago after a terrible car accident. Photo: X.
During the procedure, 128 extremely thin wires were connected directly to the part of the brain responsible for movement, called the motor cortex. These wires capture neural signals, or thoughts, and transform them into commands that can be understood by a computer.
The result? Audrey can control a cursor or a virtual keyboard on the screen just by thinking. In a moving social media post, she shared an image of the screen with her name handwritten, using only her mind.
The writing was a little shaky, but full of meaning; it was the first time in 20 years she had been able to write something like that. Elon Musk himself commented:
"She's controlling her computer just by thinking. Most people don't realize this is possible."
Audrey explained in detail how her surgery went and how the chip works. She made it clear that the technology won't restore bodily movement, but rather provide new ways to communicate and interact with the digital world, what she calls "electronic telepathy."
The surgery to implant the Neuralink brain chip required drilling a hole in her skull. Photo: X
For now, she can already control her computer. Soon, she hopes to be able to operate other electronic devices, such as cell phones and smart home devices. Her next dream? Writing a book about this entire journey.
Besides Audrey, other people are also participating in clinical trials with the Neuralink chip. One of them is Nick Wray, who suffers from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). He also reported significant improvements in his ability to interact with the digital world with his mind alone. He says this has restored a sense of autonomy he hadn't felt in years.
Ms. Crews was also able to draw faces and hearts using only her thoughts. Photo: X.
Neuralink is still in the early stages of these tests, but already has ambitious plans for the future. The company is working on other applications for the chip, such as restoring vision to blind people with a "bionic eye" and, in the future, even treating neurological diseases like depression, autism, and schizophrenia. The ultimate goal, according to Elon Musk, is to redefine the relationship between the human brain and technology.
Audrey Crews' story represents a major step forward for people with paralysis or motor limitations, and also for the advancement of neurotechnology worldwide. It is a milestone that unites science, hope, and the promise of a future where thinking can be enough to interact with everything around us.
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