Neuralink Announces Plans to Restore Sight to the Blind with Brain Chip
In a major development in neurotechnology, Elon Musk’s company Neuralink has announced plans to begin human trials of its new “Blindsight” brain chip by the end of 2025. This innovative device is designed to restore vision for people who are completely blind, including those who were born blind or have lost both eyes.
Unlike traditional retinal implants, Blindsight bypasses the optic nerve entirely. Instead, a small microelectrode array will be surgically implanted into the brain’s visual cortex by a precision robot. The implant receives data from an external camera and stimulates neurons to help the brain perceive visual information directly.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Blindsight “breakthrough device” status in 2024, and early tests in animals have shown promising results.
At first, the chip will only offer basic, low-resolution vision, described by Musk as similar to “Atari graphics.” But the goal is to gradually improve resolution over time, potentially even allowing users to see infrared and ultraviolet light.
This news could open new possibilities for individuals who are blind due to conditions that cannot be treated through traditional means. For parents of blind children, especially those with severe or congenital vision loss, this is a development to watch closely.
Read more in this Newsweek article.
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