[kevinpet]

Reviews by independent experts about the quality of this guy's life? I think he can be considered an authority on that subject.

[didibus]

I think a bit of skepticism is warranted here. Patient number 1 isn't some random guy getting the procedure and recounting it's benefits. But someone self-selected and willing from day 1, massively engaged with the company, likely paid or compensated, getting a lot of promotion, visibility and attention, etc.

It's possible a lot of the QOL improvements are from the circumstances of getting all that attention, or the hype circle they themselves found themselves in.

I also think people need to be open minded to the possibility Neuralink does offer promising benefits.

I'm just seeing a lot of people strongly for or against, and really I think the reasonable stance here is to remain optimistically pessimistic until further evidence.

[jstummbillig]

Let's be clear about what is a good subject for review and what is not. One person's opinion about how they feel is not. It can be a good subject for further inquiry, though: learn more about their experiences and consider critically whether those experiences generalize to others.

[potsandpans]

Credentialism at its finest.

[micromacrofoot]

so are people who claim placebos and homeopathy improved their conditions, we are not reliable on an individual level

[zdragnar]

No placebo can let him "do things like play Mario Kart, control his television, and turn his Dyson air purifier on and off without physically moving his fingers or any other part of his body."

Given that there are objective changes, it is not unreasonable to believe his claim that he is satisfied or has benefitted from them.

[y-curious]

You are right when it comes to qualia, but wholly incorrect in this case. There are measurable metrics in his life (ie independent use of computers, social engagements etc.)

It's not like he's having to rate his level of happiness here, these are physical benefits

[db48x]

Placebos only effect subjective outcomes, not objective ones.

[skylurk]

For all we know, the Neuralink is making him say that... /s

[smithcoin]

Not to go full tin-foil hat - but how do we know it isn't?

[femiagbabiaka]

I can't tell if you're trying to be clever, sarcastic, or are failing at both so I'll answer earnestly: reviews by independent experts of the claims of Neurolink the company and of the methods used to achieve those claimed results.

[MSFT_Edging]

Not if you're being paid to be there.

See: Yeonmi Park and the absurdity of her stories that are essentially a product of South Korea's day-time TV.

(North Korean refugees typically can't get work permits, some of the little work available is telling people how bad NK is. It is illegal to say anything good about NK in SK)

[dingnuts]

DPRK propaganda on my HN????