Blindsight chip predicted to be in widespread use in humans by 2030
Life
Image: Neuralink
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain chip company, has launched a new clinical trial in collaboration with Spanish and Californian researchers. The goal of the trial is to develop an “intelligent bionic eye” that uses artificial intelligence to restore sight to blind patients.
Although the study is listed on ClinicalTrials.gov, Neuralink has not yet started recruiting participants. For now, participation is by invitation only. The aim of the experimental technology is to enable users to recognize faces, navigate outdoors, and read using a digital system implanted in the brain.
Neuralink’s ambitions go beyond this initial experiment. The company is developing a chip called Blindsight, specifically designed to restore vision. So far, it has only been tested on monkeys. The company aims to implant Blindsight in human patients by 2030. By 2031, it expects to generate annual revenues of one billion dollars from various implantation projects.
Neuralink plans to open five major clinics in the coming years. These clinics are expected to support 20,000 surgeries annually by 2031, with a fee of $50,000 (€42,565) per operation. Currently, fewer than 10 people have Neuralink implants.
The bionic eye project illustrates Neuralink’s direct involvement in vision restoration and how it fits within the broader Blindsight strategy. However, Elon Musk and his team have not yet made an official announcement regarding the timeline for human implantation trials.
Business AM