Musk’s Neuralink company has made significant progress.
On July 21st, local time, Neuralink announced on X (formerly Twitter) that for the first time in a single day, two subjects underwent brain-machine interface (BMI) surgery: “Last weekend, we successfully completed surgeries on P8 and P9 (the eighth and ninth subjects), marking our first instance of completing two surgeries within a day. Both patients are recovering well and mentally stable.”
Musk reposted and commented on this tweet, writing: “Neuralink will ultimately change the lives of millions or even billions of people. Imagine your loved ones being able to walk again, or parents with dementia recognizing their children once more.”
Musk stated that Neuralink “will ultimately change the lives of millions or even billions of people.” Source: X
For Neuralink, completing two surgeries within a day is a significant advancement, enhancing the practicality of the technology. Founded in 2016, Neuralink primarily focuses on brain-machine interface (BCI) research, aiming to develop an implantable device capable of enabling “human brain interaction with machines.” By the end of 2023, Neuralink announced the completion of the world’s first human BMI trial. The chip was named “Telepathy.”
Previously, Neuralink had enrolled seven subjects, including four spinal cord injury patients and three amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. These subjects are using the devices frequently, with data showing an average weekly usage of about 50 hours, peaking at over 100 hours.
At the end of June this year, Neuralink released a one-hour video showcasing their latest research findings and product development directions.
Neuralink states that by 2028, the number of electrodes will exceed 25,000, reaching deeper brain regions to treat mental disorders and neuropathic pain. It has also begun exploring a deep integration with AI. Neuralink believes that, if successful, by 2028, it might be possible for all humans to connect with AI.
Neuralink’s ultimate goal is to build a “brain-computer interface” (BCI). A BCI refers to the ability to write information to any neuron anywhere, enabling high-bandwidth connections between biological brains and external machines. These can be achieved through fully automated surgery, which can be used 24/7.
At the beginning of June this year, Neuralink announced that it had raised $650 million in its latest round of financing. After the previous round of funding, Neuralink’s valuation had reached $9 billion, and after this latest round, the company’s valuation is expected to surpass $10 billion.
However, last week, foreign media reported that Neuralink had marked itself as a “small disadvantaged business” in a federal filing submitted to the Small Business Administration (SBA), with the application date marked as April 24. The SBA website shows that this qualification allows businesses to “prioritize access to federal procurement opportunities.” Previously, the U.S. Department of Justice had fined companies for falsely claiming the “small disadvantaged business” status.