AI SCIENCE
Brain chips are real, and no one’s talking about it
China has officially joined the brain-chip race, becoming the second country after the US to start clinical trials for invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) tech in humans.
The first patient, a man who lost all four limbs in an electrical accident, was able to play video games using only his mind.
The trial took place at CEBSIT, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where researchers inserted ultra-soft neural electrodes through a small hole in the skull to monitor brain signals.
The team hopes the device will eventually let users control robotic limbs or AI systems.
Because the electrode is so flexible, it avoids triggering immune reactions, making it more viable for long-term use.
In the US, Elon Musk’s Neuralink is running its own trials.
So far, it’s focused on helping people with paralysis control computers, but Musk says it could go further, potentially enhancing brainpower or even letting people “merge” with AI.
In brief:
China begins human trials of invasive brain-computer interfaces
Neuralink eyes global rollout with $650m in funding
Both projects aim to bridge brain signals with machines, starting with medical support, but not stopping there
2028 is basically tomorrow
Neuralink has raised $650 million to scale up testing worldwide.
China’s lab says its version is smaller and more flexible than Neuralink’s, and could hit the market by 2028, starting as a medical tool for people with amputations or spinal cord injuries.
You’re telling me I can play games with my brain but can’t reply to emails without crying?