Elon Musk’s brain-interface company, Neuralink, has taken a significant step toward developing technology that could restore sight to the blind. In recent trials, researchers used a brain implant called “Blindsight” to stimulate the visual cortex of a monkey’s brain, successfully triggering it to react as though it were seeing objects that didn’t physically exist.
According to a Neuralink engineer, the monkey responded as expected nearly 70% of the time, moving its eyes toward the imaginary visual cues researchers were attempting to project. This marks the first time Neuralink has shared results from tests of Blindsight, a device designed to mimic the function of an eye by bypassing traditional visual pathways.
The innovation is part of a broader effort to treat vision impairment and eventually enable advanced forms of perception. While the implant has yet to receive approval for human use in the United States, the company hopes to begin human trials this year.
In the long run, Musk envisions Blindsight not just as a tool to restore basic vision, but to eventually provide augmented capabilities—such as seeing in infrared—through integration with wearable technology like glasses.
Neuralink’s research goes beyond vision. The company is also developing implants that allow individuals with paralysis to interact with computers using only their thoughts. So far, five people have received such implants—three in 2024 and two more this year. Some users are reportedly operating the system for as many as 60 hours per week.
In another experiment presented at a scientific conference, Neuralink used brain stimulation to activate the spinal cord of a monkey, causing muscle movement. This work aligns with broader global efforts to use neural interfaces to restore mobility in individuals with severe injuries.
Monkeys offer certain advantages for early-stage brain research due to the easier access to their visual processing areas. In humans, these areas are located deeper within the brain, but Neuralink’s robotic surgical system is designed to reach such complex regions with precision.
While still in early stages, this technology signals a future where brain-computer interfaces could significantly improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and potentially change how humans interact with machines entirely.
Source: Bloomberg
