Neuralink Targets High-Volume Brain Implant Production by 2026, Musk Says

Neuralink’s implant is designed to help individuals with neurological conditions, including spinal cord injuries, by enabling direct communication between the brain and external devices.

Neuralink, the brain implant company founded by Elon Musk, is preparing to scale up production of its brain-computer interface devices, with plans to move to high-volume manufacturing and fully automated surgical implantation in 2026, according to a post by Musk on Wednesday.

The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Neuralink’s implant is designed to help individuals with neurological conditions, including spinal cord injuries, by enabling direct communication between the brain and external devices. The technology allows users to control digital interfaces using neural signals.

According to earlier disclosures, the first patient implanted with the device has been able to perform tasks such as playing video games, browsing the internet, posting on social media, and moving a cursor on a laptop using thought-based commands.

The company began human trials of its brain implant technology in 2024, after addressing safety concerns raised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The regulator had initially rejected Neuralink’s application in 2022, citing safety issues, before granting approval following subsequent submissions.

In September, Neuralink said that 12 people worldwide with severe paralysis had received the brain implants as part of ongoing trials. The company noted that participants were using the devices to control both digital and physical tools through neural activity.

The planned move to automated surgical procedures marks a significant shift from the current implantation process, which involves specialized medical teams. Musk did not provide additional details on the timeline or regulatory approvals required for deploying fully automated surgeries at scale.

Neuralink has attracted substantial investor interest as it advances its clinical trials. In June, the company raised $650 million in a funding round, strengthening its financial position as it works toward broader deployment of its technology.

Brain-computer interfaces remain a closely watched area within neurotechnology, with regulators and researchers monitoring safety, scalability, and long-term outcomes as companies move from early trials toward wider clinical use.

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