China has overtaken Elon Musk’s ‘Jesus-level technology’ Neuralink in the race to commercialize brain-computer interface technology, which is being described as the world’s first commercially available brain chip after successful clinical trials.The coin-sized implant, called NEO, has become the first surgically implanted brain-computer interface (BCI) device to be approved for clinical testing for commercial use, The New York Times reports.The device, developed by researchers at Beijing’s Tsinghua University and Shanghai-based Neural Technology, is expected to enter mass production for China’s government healthcare system.The first version of NEO aims to help patients suffering from spinal cord injury and paralysis regain control over parts of their nervous system. But researchers, technology companies and investors see brain-computer interfaces as the beginning of a major change in the way humans interact with machines.The development comes as Musk’s Neuralink continues human trials in the United States, but has not yet received widespread regulatory approval for commercial use.
‘Jesus-level technology’
Brain-computer interfaces allow signals generated by the brain to be converted into digital commands that can control computers, devices, or prosthetics. Musk has repeatedly promoted technology’s potential to change lives. Speaking via video link at an event in Israel this week, Musk argued that his company, Neuralink, does not get enough recognition for its achievements.“Restoring control and restoring vision to people with tetraplegics, I think, is a huge thing,” Musk said. “They’re kind of what I would call Jesus-level technologies,” he said.Neuralink has said that its implants could eventually allow users to type, move a computer cursor, and operate devices using only their thoughts.Proponents of the technology envision an even more ambitious future, where people can communicate digitally through thoughts or interact with machines without physical input.
How is China’s NEO different from Neuralink?
Analysts believe one reason China is moving more quickly is the design of the NEO implant. Unlike Neuralink’s N1 device, which requires electrodes to enter the brain’s cerebral cortex, the NEO is designed to sit between the skull and the brain.Eight sensors are placed against the dura mater, the protective outer membrane of the brain, minimizing the invasiveness of the procedure. The implant picks up brain signals and sends them to nearby computers, where they are translated into digital commands.According to reports, 36 patients have already tested the device and have received positive results. As the Post reports, researchers believe a less invasive approach could help reduce some of the medical risks traditionally associated with brain transplants.Experts say brain-computer interfaces could improve the lives of millions of people suffering from neurological disorders, particularly those affecting movement and speech. Potential applications extend beyond paralysis and spinal cord injuries to conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, stroke and depression.However, technology has also raised concerns about privacy, security and protection. Griffith University cyber security expert Dr David Tuffley said the tools offer huge capabilities but also create new risks.“Brain implants may seem dystopian, but they are a promising part of neuroscience research,” he said. At the same time, he warned that the devices “could theoretically allow hackers to access sensitive neural data such as patients’ thoughts and memories.”“Hacking could also enable them to manipulate motor signals to affect a patient’s cognitive functions, such as their ability to concentrate, or even their gait,” he said.“It’s a scary prospect, especially if these devices become more common,” he said. Despite rapid progress, researchers also caution that brain transplants still face significant biological hurdles.Neuralink’s N1 implant is currently being tested in nine patients. One participant, Audrey Cruz, recently described the impact technology has already had on her life.“I tried to write my name for the first time in 20 years. I’m working on it,” she wrote on X.
