Clinical Trials & Human Implants
• Three human implants completed: Early 2024 marked the first implant in
quadriplegic Noland Arbaugh at Barrow Neurological Institute. That was followed by
"Alex" later in 2024, and a third patient in January 2025—all reporting successful
operation businessinsider.com+15livemint.com+15timesofindia.indiatimes.com+15.
• Expanded trials in 2025: Neuralink plans to conduct 20–30 more implants this year
under two main FDA-approved studies—Prime (control digital devices) and Convoy
(robotic arm control)—with enrollment ongoing in the U.S., Canada, and UAE
particle.news+6drivingeco.com+6digitalhealthnews.com+6.
• Device upgrades: Link N1 devices now feature more electrodes, higher bandwidth,
improved battery life, and use a Robotic surgical system for precise placement
timesofindia.indiatimes.com+2particle.news+2livemint.com+2.
Technical Hurdles
• Thread retractions: During the first implant, roughly 85% of electrode threads
retracted post-surgery. Neuralink responded with software updates and design
improvements; later implants showed better retention
businessinsider.com+15elonbuzz.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15.
Medical Applications & Future Tech
• Current focus: Helping paralyzed and ALS patients to control cursors, type, interact
digitally, and even operate robotic limbs via the Convoy trial
drivingeco.com+1livemint.com+1.
• Blindsight device: Aimed at restoring vision directly through visual cortex
stimulation. It received FDA Breakthrough Device designation in 2024, with human
trials in the UAE or elsewhere slated for late 2025–early 2026
reuters.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3outlookindia.com+3.
• Telepathy & telekinesis branding: Neuralink has filed trademarks for “Telepathy” and
“Telekinesis,” hinting at future non-medical applications of mind-based control and
communication reddit.com+15wired.com+15elonbuzz.com+15.
Funding & Competition
• Series E raise: Recently closed $650M, bringing valuation to around $9B, with
investors like ARK Invest, Sequoia, and Thrive. Funds to be used for global trial
expansion, device iteration, BCI robustness, and regulatory efforts
timesofindia.indiatimes.com+3elpais.com+3reuters.com+3.
• Competing technologies: Other BCI firms include Synchron (stent-based), Precision
Neuroscience, Paradromics. Neuralink's fully invasive method faces both engineering
and regulatory scrutiny en.wikipedia.org+2wsj.com+2outlookindia.com+2.
Roadmap & Vision
• Human implant growth: Musk predicts “hundreds” of implants within a few years,
scaling to tens of thousands in 5 years and millions in a decade—but actual trial
rollout will likely be more gradual livemint.com+5moneycontrol.com+5onmine.io+5.
• Long-term aims: Beyond medical restoration, Neuralink envisions BCI tech as the
interface for everyday devices like phones and enabling cognitive enhancements
through direct mind-to-machine interaction cosmicmeta.io.
Summary
Neuralink is progressing rapidly from animal experiments to human implants, targeting
large-scale trials in 2025. While early patients have shown promising results in controlling
devices, hardware issues like thread retraction persist. The company is also pushing into
visionary tech—vision restoration and telepathic communication—all fueled by fresh
funding and global ambition. Still, it faces critical safety, regulatory, and ethical roadblocks.
