Elon Musk’s Neuralink is one of the most famous companies working on brain chips. The company’s goal is to create technology that will allow people to control devices using just their minds.
Neuralink and its Progress
So far, Neuralink has implanted chips in a few patients, including its first human patient, Noland Arbaugh, who was paralyzed and able to move objects with his mind after getting the brain implant. According to Arbaugh, there have been no negative effects on his body or mind since the surgery. This is a significant step forward in technology because it shows that brain chips can work for people with paralysis.
In 2024, Neuralink took another leap by filing for trademarks for words like “Blindsight,” “telepathy,” and “telekinesis.” These terms suggest that the company is pushing forward with the idea of making brain chips more powerful. Neuralink is now focusing on developing a chip called “Blindsight,” which aims to help blind people see again.
This chip could be implanted into people by the end of this year, although Neuralink needs more time for testing. While Musk is optimistic about the animal trials, including on monkeys, which showed good results, the company still has a long way to go to make Blindsight a reality for humans.
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Chinese Initiative Racing Ahead
While Neuralink is making headlines in the U.S., a collaboration between the Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR) and NeuCyber NeuroTech has been gaining attention. This partnership has already implanted a semi-invasive brain chip called Beinao No. 1 into three patients in the past month. These patients were able to control a robotic arm and transmit their thoughts onto a computer screen, which is a huge milestone for the technology.
The Chinese team has set a goal of implanting this chip in 13 people by the end of this year and hopes to expand their clinical trials to 50 patients in 2026.
The advantage of the Beinao No.1 chip is that it is semi-invasive. This means that it does not require as much surgery to insert into the brain. Instead of going deep inside the brain, it is placed on the surface, which reduces the risk of damage to the brain tissue.
This is a key factor that makes this technology safer compared to fully-invasive chips like those being developed by Neuralink. The Chinese team has already shown off videos where patients are using their brain chips to perform tasks like pouring water into a cup using a robotic arm. This demonstrates the progress they have made in helping people with paralysis regain some mobility.
What Sets Neuralink Apart?
The main difference between Neuralink’s technology and the work done by the Chinese team or other companies like Synchron lies in the way the brain chips are inserted. Neuralink’s chips are fully implanted inside the brain, while other companies, including CIBR and NeuCyber, use semi-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) systems. Semi-invasive chips are placed on the surface of the brain, reducing the risks of brain damage or other complications that can arise from deeper surgical procedures. The downside is that these chips may not provide as strong a signal as the fully invasive ones, which could affect their effectiveness in the long run.
While Neuralink is focused on creating wireless brain chips for advanced control, including its potential for helping the blind see again, other companies are also working hard on their own versions of brain chips. Synchron, a company in the United States, is currently leading the way with human trials. Backed by big investors like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, Synchron has implanted its brain chips in 10 patients across the United States and Australia.
This makes it clear that while Neuralink has made significant progress, it is not the only player in the field. The competition is growing, with companies like Synchron and the Chinese collaboration working quickly to push out new products and make them available to patients who need them.
The Ongoing Race
The brain chip race is a battle between technology, safety, and progress. Neuralink, with its fully implanted chips, may offer a more powerful signal, but the risks involved in the surgery make some patients and doctors hesitant. On the other hand, the Chinese team’s semi-invasive approach presents a safer option but comes with challenges related to signal quality. Synchron, with its brain-computer interface, is somewhere in between, making advancements with a different approach.
Each of these companies is moving forward with their own strategies, and while Neuralink may have been one of the first to draw attention to brain chip technology, other players like Synchron and the Chinese team are quickly catching up. With new brain chips offering exciting possibilities for those with disabilities, the competition will only get tougher as more breakthroughs are made.
