It's about the intersection of tradition and innovation when it comes to neuroscience, the brain science. How about that. What do you think about it.Somewhere around 2,500 years ago, the Buddhist monks used to be sitting and doing mindful meditation, claiming that is actually transforming the minds. But today, us neuroscientists in academia, in top-notch academic centers, we sit, we think, and we formulate ways to understand the brain dynamics. We attach sensors to the brain surface. We use other methods to ...

Clinical Trials and Product Development - Neuralink launched a clinical trial in Great Britain in partnership with UCL and Newcastle hospitals, involving up to seven participants, to explore restoring digital autonomy to individuals with severe paralysis [1] - Neuralink is conducting trials across six hospital sites in four countries for controlling digital devices telepathically and is seeking participants for speech restoration at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, with plans to expand to the US within the next year [1] - Neuralink plans to implant in the speech cortex next quarter to directly decode attentive words from brain signals to speech [1] - In 2026, Neuralink plans to triple the number of electrodes from 1,000 to 3,000 for more capabilities and have its first blind sight participant to enable navigation [1] - By 2028, Neuralink aims to reach more than 25,000 channels per implant, enable multiple implants, access any part of the brain for psychiatric conditions and pain, and integrate with AI [1] Competitive Landscape - Sam Altman is co-founding Merge Labs, aiming to raise $250 million from OpenAI and other investors to compete with Neuralink, valuing Merge Labs at $850 million [1] - Coinbase co-founder Fred Ersome's company, Nudge, raised $100 million to build a helmet that beams low-intensity focused ultrasound into the brain [3] - LinkedIn co-founder Reed Hoffman is leading a $12 million funding round in a similar company [4] Patient Progress and Impact - Neuralink successfully completed surgeries on participant 8 and participant 9, aiming for at least 20 participants before the end of the year [7] - Audrey Cruz is the first woman in the world with a Neuralink BCI, allowing her to control a laptop cursor with her mind telepathically [8][10] - Nick Ray, participant 8, reports regaining digital autonomy and creative expression through the Neuralink implant [15] - Jake Snider, Neuralink's seventh patient, initially set a world record for cursor control with a brain-computer interface at 10.08 bits per second, later surpassed by Nick Ray at 10.39 bits per second [16] - RJ Tanner, Neuralink's fifth participant, has regained a sense of independence, controlling his computer, phone, and TV, and interacting with his daughter through a robotic arm simulation [21][22][23]

Technology Comparison - Neuralink's brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are positioned to potentially make external devices like Apple's Vision Pro obsolete due to fundamental advantages in bandwidth, integration, and sensory capabilities [20][23][26][27] - Apple's Vision Pro, priced at $3,500 before upgrades and taxes, is considered a spatial computer with 23 million pixels of resolution and 13 cameras, but its fundamental architecture is viewed as an extension of existing technology rather than a reinvention [4][9][16] - Neuralink's technology involves implanting a tiny chip into the brain using a custom robot to place thousands of electrode threads, each thinner than a human hair, into specific areas [10][11] - While Vision Pro is available now, Neuralink is in early stages of human testing, focusing on medical applications for individuals with paralysis [43][44] Neuralink's Potential and Advantages - Neuralink aims to solve brain and spine problems and enable humans to merge with artificial intelligence [38][39] - The company's technology could allow users to control devices with their thoughts, potentially achieving communication speeds faster than typing [12][13][26] - Neuralink's approach could bypass biological limitations, potentially creating new senses or enhancing existing ones beyond their limits [27][28] - The company is valued at around $8 billion to $9 billion, indicating significant investment and commitment to its mission [57] Challenges and Future Outlook - Neuralink faces technical, regulatory, and ethical hurdles, including ensuring device security, data privacy, and addressing psychological barriers related to brain surgery [36][37][38] - Elon Musk estimates that non-medical applications of Neuralink may be 5 to 10 years away, with more widespread adoption in 15 to 20 years [62] - The company is expanding human trials to Miami, Florida; Toronto, Canada; the UK; New Zealand; and the UAE [63][64]