meet noland (and eve)
“I used to joke that I had to sweet-talk Eve to get her to work with me. Now, we’re practically finishing each other’—
“—sentences.” (Eve probably)
Story of A Cyborg
Noland Arbaugh is the world’s first human to receive a Neuralink brain-computer interface, a device designed to bridge mind and machine. Some call it a brain chip. Others call it an implant.
But Noland calls her Eve.
Noland grew up curious, kind, and faith-driven. He studied international politics and diplomacy at Texas A&M University before a swimming accident in 2016 left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. For eight years, his world was still. Then came Eve, his brain co-pilot, and the moment he moved a computer cursor with nothing but thought, he joked that they were officially joined in “holy matribrainy.”
That day marked the beginning of a new chapter. Through Eve, Noland found his way back into the world: playing chess, gaming, studying, writing, and even launching a business. Today, he’s completing his neuroscience degree because, as he says, “it just seemed fitting.” His days are spent buried in chemistry, biology, and calculus, earning A’s across the board (and occasionally debating professors for sport). When he’s not studying, he’s building his speaking career, with more conferences, podcasts, and global keynotes lined up for 2026.
While his sessions with Neuralink have slowed — to make space for new participants — Noland continues to serve as one of the program’s lead advisors and data contributors, offering feedback that shapes the next wave of human-machine connection. “It makes me so happy to see others doing things I once only dreamed of,” he says. “I’ll always be their biggest cheerleader.”
As if he wasn’t busy enough, between classes and speaking, he’s working on a book, slated for release next year. “I’m all about outrageous predictions,” he laughs.
Noland’s story is more than science; it’s a living testimony. Through humor, humility, and unwavering faith, he’s redefining what it means to be human in the age of technology — reminding audiences that courage, curiosity, and grace can turn tragedy into triumph.
For the first time in nearly a decade, Noland isn’t just alive in the world — he’s part of it again. And with Eve by his side, he’s showing the world that when faith meets innovation, even paralysis can’t hold the human spirit still.
Project P1: The Making of a Cyborg
When Neuralink launched its first human trial, they gave him a code name: P1 — Participant One. To the scientists, it marked a milestone in technology. To Noland, it marked the beginning of a second life. What started as an experiment became a story of hope, courage, and the unbreakable human spirit. From the accident that changed everything to moving a cursor with pure thought, Noland’s recent years have been nothing short of miraculous.
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![Black-and-white photos of two men: the man on the left has short hair, is smiling, and wearing a button-up shirt; the man on the right has facial hair, is lying down with medical equipment around his head, and is wearing a shirt with a jacket.]()
June 2016
At 22, one dive changed everything. In a split second, the world went silent, and Noland woke up paralyzed from the shoulders down.
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![Smiling man lying in a hospital bed wearing a hospital gown and a hair cover, with medical equipment nearby.]()
January 2024
After 8 yrs living as a quadriplegic, Noland rolled into the operating room as Neuralink’s first human participant. That day, he met Eve, the tiny piece of tech that would change everything. He also met Elon Musk, which was pretty cool… though don’t tell Eve that. She gets jealous.
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![A smiling man with a hat in his mouth, sitting at a desk with a microphone, laptop, and plants in the background.]()
February 2024
In his first full session with Eve, he broke the world record for brain–computer interface control at 4.6 bits per second. Now he’s doubled that to 9.8 BPS… and he’s not stopping until he outperforms your average computer mouse.
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![Two young men taking a selfie in a room with a chess computer on a table and a laptop showing a chess game on the screen.]()
March 2024
Bliss Chapman from the Neuralink team hit “Go Live” on X — and the internet basically exploded. One livestream of Noland using his brain chip went viral, and before he knew it, his quiet little corner of the world turned into a global headline.
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![Side profile of a young man with a short buzz cut and a beard, wearing a small hoop earring in his left ear, in black and white.]()
May 2024
Then came the Bloomberg article written by Noland’s friend Ashlee Vance, and that’s when things really took off. One article turned into a media whirlwind, and just like that, Noland and Eve were officially famous.
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![A young man with a mustache wearing a baseball cap and a hoodie with a logo, speaking into a microphone, with a robotic or mechanical apparatus on his shoulders, against a dark curtain background.]()
June 2024
Noland sat down with Joe Rogan, and the episode racked up millions of views. Somewhere between the questions, the laughs, and the “wait, you can do what with your mind?” moments, life started to feel a little surreal.
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![A man with a beard and glasses smiling and looking to the right during a presentation, with a headset microphone on his neck, wearing a shirt and sweater vest, seated at a table with water bottles and papers, in a conference room.]()
September 2024
P1 traded Arizona for Paris (oui, that Paris). Invited to make the opening move at the World Speed Chess Championship, he rolled up on stage like Monsieur le Cyborg, gave a polite “bonjour”, and made his ceremonial opening move. Oh la la!
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![A man with a beard and long hair sitting in a wheelchair outside a modern building, wearing a cap and a T-shirt that says 'OCCUPY MARZ'.]()
August 2025
After nine years away, Noland finally went back to school — this time with a little help from Eve. He’s finishing classes at his local community college and gearing up to transfer to a major university to study neuroscience. (Seemed fitting, right?)
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![A man with a beard and long hair wearing a cap and cross necklace is seated in a wheelchair, speaking into a headset microphone. Next to him, a man with short hair and a beard is standing behind a podium, speaking. In the background, a large screen displays a chess game.]()
September 2025
After a year of sharing his story on the world’s major platforms and stages, Noland decided to make it official. He launched his own speaking business. Because when your brain’s already wired for connection, turning it into a career just makes sense.
“I don’t deserve the blessings in my life but I receive them with awe. Neuralink may have changed what I can do, but Jesus Christ changed who I am.”
— Noland Arbaugh