Key points from article :
Elon Musk says Neuralink plans to dramatically scale up production of its brain–computer interface (BCI) devices in 2026, moving toward what he describes as “high-volume production” and a largely automated surgical process. In a post on X, Musk highlighted a major technical change: the ultra-thin electrode threads will be inserted through the dura mater without removing it, which he called a significant advance because it could make the procedure safer and more streamlined.
Neuralink’s goal is to help people with paralysis control computers and digital devices using only their thoughts. Often likened by Musk to a “Fitbit in your skull,” the system involves a coin-sized implant that replaces a small piece of bone in the skull and connects to the brain via 64 flexible threads carrying a total of 1,024 electrodes. These electrodes read neural signals and translate them into digital commands.
After early regulatory setbacks, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Neuralink to begin human trials, marking a key milestone for the company. Momentum has since grown, with Neuralink raising $650 million in a Series E funding round and reporting that 12 patients had received implants by September last year. The first recipient, 29-year-old quadriplegic Noland Arbaugh, has used the device to play video games and chess following his January 2025 surgery.
The trials have not been without challenges. Shortly after Arbaugh’s implant, some of the hair-thin electrode threads retracted from the brain and stopped transmitting data, reducing the number of functioning electrodes. Neuralink has acknowledged these issues, and Musk’s comments suggest the company believes improvements in device design and surgical automation could help address such problems as it prepares for larger-scale deployment.
