A China-led research team has created a brain implant electrode array as soft as brain tissue, thinner than a hair, and highly durable. In animal trials, it recorded neural activity with long-term clarity for 18 months, overcoming the "hard-against-soft" issue that degrades signals from current rigid implants.
China has approved NEO, the world's first commercial brain-computer chip, for mass production. The coin-sized device, designed for patients with spinal cord injuries and paralysis, uses a less invasive approach than Elon Musk's Neuralink, which is still under US regulatory review.
Elon Musk's Neuralink is developing a surgical robot to implant its brain-computer interface, aiming to treat brain-related conditions. This robot, designed for precision and consistency, uses an ultrafine needle to insert electrode threads, automating a complex procedure. Neuralink's goal is a generalized neural interface to help thousands more people.
Former Harvard professor Charles Lieber, following a 2021 federal conviction for false statements and tax offenses, has relocated to Shenzhen to lead brain-computer interface research at the state-backed i-BRAIN institute.
