Elon Musk's Neuralink tests 'Superpower' implants on monkeys
Neuralink, Elon Musk's neurotech company, is developing a brain implant called "Blindsight" that aims to restore vision—even for people who were born blind or don't have eyes, provided the visual cortex is intact. The first human trials are planned for 2025.
How blindsight works
In animal tests, Blindsight helped monkeys respond to artificial visual cues by directly stimulating the brain's visual cortex—basically creating sight without using the eyes. The tech has earned FDA breakthrough status, which means it'll move through approvals faster.
Low-res vision, superhuman abilities
The first version of Blindsight will offer low-res vision (think old-school "Atari graphics"). Musk says future upgrades might even give users superhuman abilities like infrared sight. Trials may kick off in the US, but researchers are still figuring out how safe and effective it'll be for humans long-term.