The field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) has taken a significant leap forward, with major updates coming from both the United States and China. Elon Musk’s Neuralink and China’s Beinao No. 1 project are each advancing toward human trials with new brain-chip technologies, underscoring growing momentum in neurotechnology.
Neuralink recently announced that it plans to implant a new chip designed to restore a form of visual perception known as “blindsight” in a human subject by the end of 2025. The Neuralink brain chip in this case is tailored to stimulate visual-processing centers in the brain, helping patients respond to visual input even without functioning eyes or optic nerves. This Neuralink chip represents a new wave of sensory-focused implants, building on the company’s ongoing work in neural signal decoding and stimulation. At nearly the same time, Chinese researchers reported the successful completion of their first human implant of the Beinao No. 1 chip and are now preparing for broader clinical trials.
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The term "blindsight" refers to a rare neurological condition where people who are clinically blind can still react to visual stimuli without consciously seeing them. The Neuralink brain chip aims to recreate this phenomenon using advanced electrodes that bypass damaged visual pathways and directly engage the brain's image-processing regions.
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In parallel, China’s Beinao No. 1 is exploring more general applications of brain-machine interfacing. While it doesn't target vision specifically, it focuses on reading brain signals and translating them into external actions, an approach that could benefit patients with motor disorders or neurological impairments. After confirming safety and functionality in its first human trial, the research team is moving ahead with an expanded testing phase.
So far, China’s Beinao No. 1 has undergone three successful tests on human subjects, with ten more clinical trials lined up as part of its national research roadmap. Neuralink, on the other hand, is preparing for its first human implantation of the blindsight-focused Neuralink brain chip in 2025, marking its official entry into sensory-focused trials. This milestone represents the next phase in the ongoing effort toward a full-scale Neuralink implant human trial.
Both projects fall under the broader category of brain-computer interfaces technologies that connect the human brain directly to digital systems. These devices can either read brain signals, allowing users to control machines with thought alone, or send signals into the brain to restore lost sensory or motor functions. The chips involved typically consist of ultra-thin threads or electrodes implanted in specific brain regions, designed to minimize damage while maximizing data exchange.
Though their specific goals differ, Neuralink is targeting sensory restoration, while Beinao No. 1 is tackling broader neuro-interfacing the simultaneous progress of these initiatives reflects a global push toward integrating human cognition with digital systems. While pricing models have not been finalized, early estimates suggest the price of commercial brain chips like these could vary significantly depending on the medical application and accessibility goals. Researchers in both countries have emphasized medical benefits as their primary motivation, with the potential to aid individuals suffering from paralysis, blindness, and other debilitating conditions.
