Elon Musk's Neuralink Puts Brain Chips in 5 Humans, Plans Vision-Restoring Implant by 2026

On May 20, 2025, Elon Musk announced that five people have now received Neuralink바카라�s brain-computer interface implant, with early results showing patients able to move a computer cursor using only their thoughts. The update, posted on X, also stated that Neuralink plans to conduct its first human trial of a second chip, Blindsight, by late 2025 or early 2026, potentially in the United Arab Emirates. The device is designed to restore vision in people who are completely blind.

Neuralink Corp., founded by Musk in 2016, prior to this announcement, the company had implanted its original chip into three human patients. According to the company, all three implants are functioning. In a recent livestreamed event from Las Vegas, Musk said that 20 to 30 more procedures are planned for 2025.

The company바카라�s first test subject, 29-year-old Noland Arbaugh, is quadriplegic. He has used the device to play online chess, move a cursor, browse the internet, and post on social media platforms using only neural signals.

Neuralink바카라�s implant is a small device embedded in the skull, with ultra-thin threads inserted into the brain. The system reads neural activity and transmits signals wirelessly to external devices via Bluetooth. A custom-built surgical robot handles the implantation.

The company바카라�s U.S. trials are being conducted under FDA-approved protocols. The PRIME Study targets individuals with paralysis, aiming to enable them to operate digital devices through thought. A second trial, called Convoy, involves fewer participants and is testing compatibility with assistive technologies like robotic arms.

Neuralink바카라�s long-term goal is to develop commercial brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for a range of medical conditions. Musk has also stated that future applications could include restoring sight, hearing, or even treating neurological conditions like depression or insomnia. These claims remain unverified.

The company is part of a broader field of neurotechnology startups, including Synchron, Blackrock Neurotech, Paradromics, and Precision Neuroscience. Synchron, in particular, has already implanted a less-invasive BCI in several patients using a stent-like device inserted through blood vessels. Unlike Neuralink, it does not require open-skull surgery.

Scientific reception to Neuralink has been mixed. While some researchers acknowledge the engineering improvements in electrode density and robotic precision, many have criticised Musk바카라�s public statements as speculative. 바카라�I don바카라�t think there was anything revolutionary in the presentation,바카라� said Andrew Jackson, professor of neural interfaces at Newcastle University, following Neuralink바카라�s 2020 demo.

Others have noted that the fundamental science behind BCIs is not new. Researchers at institutions like Duke and the University of Pittsburgh demonstrated similar capabilities nearly two decades ago. Miguel Nicolelis, a leading neuroscientist at Duke, has argued that Neuralink overstates its novelty while downplaying ethical risks and surgical barriers.

As of now, Neuralink has not published peer-reviewed clinical results or independent safety data. The implants remain experimental.

If the company meets its projected timeline, the next significant test will be whether Blindsight can deliver on its claim: enabling the blind to see. Until then, the company바카라�s progress remains under observation, with limited public data and ongoing scrutiny from the scientific community.