Elon Musk's brain-computer interface company, Neuralink, announced plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implants and move to an almost fully automated surgical procedure in 2026.
Musk shared the update on X on Wednesday, highlighting major advances in the technology designed to help people with paralysis and other neurological conditions.
"Neuralink will start high-volume production of brain-computer interface devices and move to a streamlined, almost entirely automated surgical procedure in 2026. Device threads will go through the dura, without the need to remove it. This is a big deal," Musk wrote.
The small, coin-sized implant allows patients to control digital devices, move cursors on computers, play video games, and even browse social media using only their thoughts.
The first recipient of the device, Noland Arbaugh, received the implant in 2024 and has since shared that it helps him play games like Mario Kart, control his television, and operate devices such as his air purifier without physical movement, Mint reported.
Other patients have reported using the chip to interact with first-person shooter games and smart home tools.
Neuralink began human trials in 2024 after addressing safety concerns raised by the US Food and Drug Administration, which initially rejected the application in 2022.
By November 2025, the company confirmed that 12 patients worldwide with severe paralysis had received implants.
The technology allows them to control digital and physical tools purely through thought, offering a new form of communication and independence.
NEWS: Elon Musk says Neuralink will start high-volume production of brain-computer interface devices and move to a streamlined, almost entirely automated surgical procedure in 2026 pic.twitter.com/s0RA0Fcncq
— Dima Zeniuk (@DimaZeniuk) January 1, 2026
Elon Musk Aims to Boost Communication
Musk has also envisioned a future where the device could provide communication rates that exceed normal human capacity for people with complete paralysis.
He told the Lex Fridman podcast last year, "We're aiming to give people who have... quadriplegia, or maybe have complete loss of the connection between the brain and body, a communication data rate that exceeds normal human."
The company plans to expand access significantly, aiming for more than 1,000 implants by 2026.
According to Reuters, Neuralink raised $650 million in a June 2025 funding round to accelerate research, expand patient access, and develop new devices that strengthen the connection between biological and artificial intelligence.
Additionally, Neuralink has received the FDA's "breakthrough device" designation for its Blindsight implant, which aims to restore vision even for people who have lost both eyes and their optic nerves.
Musk said the technology could eventually provide higher-resolution vision and the ability to see in different wavelengths, surpassing natural human sight.
Originally published on vcpost.com
