Elon Musk Neuralink gets FDA nod for chip that will let speech impaired people speak, human trials soon

India Today

02-05-2025

Just a month after the Blindsight chip's first implantation, Neuralink has announced that the FDA has also given it a go-ahead for the chip to help speech-impaired individuals. Elon Musk's brain-chip company took to X (formerly Twitter), stating that it has received, "Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA to help restore communication for individuals with severe speech impairment." The tag of Breakthrough Device Designation for the device is awarded to certain medical devices that provide treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening conditions.
advertisementWith this new development, the company aims to restore communication amongst individuals who have suffered from a chronic illness affecting their speech. The company further explains, "This includes those affected by ALS, stroke, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions." Elon Musk-owned company has also highlighted that human trials for the same will begin soon. In the same X thread, it urged the audience to participate in the trails. "If you or someone you love has lost the ability to speak, you can sign up to our Patient Registry today and help shape the future of communication," it stated.Before receiving approval, the company had been working to improve its technology for users. Just a few days ago, an X user, Brad Smith, shared a post stating that Neuralink had helped him communicate after ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) robbed him of his ability to speak. He explained that the implant replaced a portion of his skull, and that its ultra-fine threads were inserted just a few millimetres into his brain by a robot, carefully avoiding blood vessels to prevent bleeding.
advertisement
The device contains 1,024 electrodes that detect his neural activity and transmit it to a computer, where AI processes the data and decodes Brad's intended movements in real time to operate a cursor.Using the brain implant, Brad is now able to move the cursor with his tongue and 'click' by clenching his jaw—a breakthrough that followed unsuccessful attempts to control it with his hands. This technology enables him to communicate through a computer, and he continues to train the system by guiding the cursor across the screen.While Brad's story is a testament to the potential of Neuralink, the FDA nod will take this tech to the next step.Neuralink's Blindsight chipSpeaking of brain chips, Elon Musk recently announced that its Blindsight chip has already been implanted in the first human in 2025.Blindsight is an experimental implant designed to help individuals regain vision—even in cases where both eyes and the optic nerve are lost. As Elon Musk revealed last year, 'even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve' may be able to see again. The device works by bypassing the eyes entirely, directly stimulating the brain's visual cortex. According to Musk, 'provided the visual cortex is intact, it will even enable those who have been blind from birth to see for the first time.'advertisementIn essence, if the visual cortex remains functional, the Blindsight chip could offer people born blind the ability to experience sight for the very first time.The startup is also working on brain-chip interfaces aimed at helping paralysed individuals, enabling them to control digital devices purely through thought—a feature the company refers to as Telepathy.Tune InMust Watch