Paralysed Woman Writes Her Name After 20 Years Using Neuralink Brain Implant
Earlier this month, Neuralink announced the successful completion of two BCI implant surgeries in a single day — the first time the company had achieved this. One of those patients, who went by the identifier 'P9,' has now revealed her identity. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Audrey Crews shared, 'I would like to announce that I am P9. I am the first woman in the world with a Neuralink BCI. I can't wait for the world to meet me and follow me on my journey.'
Crews disclosed that she has lived with paralysis for 20 years and underwent the Neuralink procedure in the hopes of regaining some digital independence. Following her recovery, she excitedly posted about her first major milestone: 'I tried writing my name for the first time in 20 years. I'm working on it.'
The surgery was performed at the University of Miami Health Centre, where doctors used robotic precision to implant the Neuralink device. The procedure involved drilling a small hole in the skull and inserting 128 ultra-thin threads directly into the motor cortex, the region of the brain responsible for controlling movement. The implant, known as the N1 or 'The Link,' is roughly the size of a 10p coin and is designed to detect and transmit neural activity wirelessly.
'The BCI lets me control my computer using my mind. I'll be able to control more electronic devices in the near future. I also want to clarify that this implant will not allow me to walk again or regain movement. It's strictly for telepathy only,' Crews explained in a follow-up post.
Elon Musk, Neuralink's founder, amplified her story by sharing it on X, writing: 'She is controlling her computer just by thinking. Most people don't realise this is possible.'
Neuralink, founded in 2016, has long aimed to revolutionize the way humans interact with machines, especially for those living with neurological impairments. At the heart of the system are electrodes that pick-up brain signals associated with intended movement. These signals are then translated into actionable commands via AI-driven algorithms, enabling the user to move cursors, type, draw, and play games using only their thoughts.
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But what seemed like a simple accountability tool on the surface turned into a logistical headache for many government workers. Government agencies resisted Musk's rule early on As early as February 2025, signs of internal pushback began to surface. Agencies such as the Department of Defense, NASA, State Department, and Health and Human Services began advising employees to pause or disregard the directive entirely. Internal memos cited concerns about legal risks, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and conflicting chains of command. Some supervisors complained that the requirement added administrative burdens without delivering meaningful insights. Others argued that the centralized summaries violated existing agency reporting protocols. In fact, by April, many departments had already unofficially stopped enforcing the rule—even before Musk left his post. 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OPM memo signals return to traditional oversight In the memo issued August 5, the Office of Personnel Management stated that agencies would now 'return to existing oversight mechanisms' that include performance reviews, project evaluations, and internal accountability metrics. 'This directive is no longer in effect,' the OPM memo read. 'We believe agency leadership is fully equipped with the tools necessary to assess team performance without weekly reporting mandates.' The Trump administration's move underscores its confidence in traditional supervisory structures—and a desire to minimize administrative chaos stirred up by Musk's reforms. Fallout from Musk's departure continues Musk's exit from government in late May followed a wave of resignations and infighting within DOGE. Critics called the agency 'chaotic' and 'visionless,' while supporters defended Musk's attempts to modernize Washington's outdated systems. Even after his departure, Musk remained vocal on social media, slamming what he called 'deep state resistance' to accountability and claiming that Trump 'betrayed the vision for real change.' Since then, he has focused on expanding his ventures in AI and space exploration, while DOGE has been largely sidelined within the administration. What the end of 'Five Things' means for federal workers For the more than 2 million federal employees affected by the weekly email directive, the repeal comes as a major relief. The program had added extra hours of unpaid administrative work and opened employees to new levels of scrutiny, according to union leaders. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) had been advocating for the policy to be scrapped, citing unfair labor practices and stress-related issues among staff. With this formal announcement, agencies can now focus on core mission work without the added burden of weekly summary submissions. Bigger picture: Is this the end of Musk's influence in Washington? The unraveling of Elon Musk's influence in Washington politics is now evident. From once being hailed as the face of 'Silicon Valley meets Capitol Hill,' Musk now finds himself on the outside looking in. His bold but divisive ideas—like algorithmic personnel tracking and AI-assisted departmental decision-making—failed to gain lasting traction. What's clear is that President Trump is reasserting control over his administration's direction, refocusing on efficiency through conventional oversight, and stepping back from experiments that stir more dysfunction than results. Trump draws line between innovation and disruption While innovation remains a key part of Trump's agenda for his second term, the administration has now drawn a clear line between meaningful reform and disruptive overreach. The end of Musk's 'Five Things' email rule symbolizes that shift. By formally terminating the program, the White House is sending a message: government reform must be functional, clear, and supported by institutional leadership—not just dictated by tech billionaires with grand visions. As 2025 moves forward, it's expected that the Trump administration will continue pushing for government modernization, but with greater respect for the realities of federal operations and agency autonomy. FAQs: Q1: Why did the Trump administration end Elon Musk's 'Five Things' email rule? Because it caused confusion, added workload, and was no longer seen as useful. Q2: What was Elon Musk's government email directive all about? It required federal workers to send weekly emails listing five things they accomplished.
