World's First Neuralink User to Keynote Robotics Summit
Noland Arbaugh, the first patient to receive Neuralink's brain-computer interface implant, will deliver a closing keynote at Robotics Summit & Expo 2026, sharing his experience as the pioneering user of the technology.
Arbaugh was injured in his early 20s after a shallow water diving accident that left him with tetraplegia. In January 2024, he became the first human recipient of Neuralink's investigational brain-computer interface implant as part of the company's clinical trial.
The Neuralink N1 implant uses 64 flexible threads carrying 1,024 electrodes to record neural activity in the motor cortex and translate intended movement into computer control. The interface has given Arbaugh agency and independence back in his life.
The keynote will feature a conversation with Steve Crowe, editorial director of The Robot Report.
The Robotics Summit & Expo brings together robotics researchers, developers, and industry leaders to discuss the latest advances in robot technology. Arbaugh's appearance highlights the growing intersection between brain-computer interfaces and robotics.