Latest news with #BCIs
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Musk's Neuralink Secures $650 Million for Clinical Push
Neuralink just closed a hefty $650 million Series E round, pushing its valuation past the $9 billion mark. Backed by big names like ARK Invest, Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, QIA and Valor Equity Partners, this infusion makes it clear that investors still believe in Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk's vision of braincomputer interfaces (BCIs). In more concrete terms, it means Neuralink can accelerate its clinical trialsright now, five patients with severe paralysis are already using implanted devices to control computers and smartphones with their thoughts alone. Those trials span institutions like the Barrow Neurological Institute, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Toronto Western Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi. And because Neuralink is hoping to snag Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA for its vision and speech restoration program, the clock is tickingdecisions on that usually land within 60 days. If they get it, the path to wider use becomes a lot smoother. Of course, this isn't just about bolstering medical trials. With the new capital, Neuralink can beef up manufacturing and expand its engineering teamscritical steps if it's going to compete in an emerging market for neuroprosthetics. Moreover, thanks to Musk's broader ecosystem commitment with Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, xAI and XNeuralink has unique access to AI expertise, hardware know-how and regulatory resources. All told, the big raise and the early patient wins suggest Neuralink's bets on restoring autonomy to people with paralysis (and possibly beyond) are far from over. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Musk's Neuralink Secures $650 Million for Clinical Push
Neuralink just closed a hefty $650 million Series E round, pushing its valuation past the $9 billion mark. Backed by big names like ARK Invest, Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, QIA and Valor Equity Partners, this infusion makes it clear that investors still believe in Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk's vision of braincomputer interfaces (BCIs). In more concrete terms, it means Neuralink can accelerate its clinical trialsright now, five patients with severe paralysis are already using implanted devices to control computers and smartphones with their thoughts alone. Those trials span institutions like the Barrow Neurological Institute, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Toronto Western Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi. And because Neuralink is hoping to snag Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA for its vision and speech restoration program, the clock is tickingdecisions on that usually land within 60 days. If they get it, the path to wider use becomes a lot smoother. Of course, this isn't just about bolstering medical trials. With the new capital, Neuralink can beef up manufacturing and expand its engineering teamscritical steps if it's going to compete in an emerging market for neuroprosthetics. Moreover, thanks to Musk's broader ecosystem commitment with Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, xAI and XNeuralink has unique access to AI expertise, hardware know-how and regulatory resources. All told, the big raise and the early patient wins suggest Neuralink's bets on restoring autonomy to people with paralysis (and possibly beyond) are far from over. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
NBC News
02-06-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Elon Musk's Neuralink raises $650 million in fresh capital
Elon Musk's brain tech startup Neuralink has closed a $650 million funding round, the company announced Monday. ARK Invest, Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners and other firms participated in the round, according to a press release. Neuralink said the fresh capital will help the company bring its technology to more patients and develop new devices that 'deepen the connection between biological and artificial intelligence.' Neuralink is building a brain-computer interface, or BCI, which is a system that translates brain signals into commands for external technologies. The company's first system, called Telepathy, involves 64 'threads' that are inserted directly into the brain. The threads are thinner than a human hair and record neural signals through 1,024 electrodes, according to Neuralink's website. The initial aim of the technology is to help patients with severe paralysis restore some independence. As of Monday, five patients have been implanted with Neuralink's technology, and are able to 'control digital and physical devices with their thoughts,' the release said. Neuralink is currently carrying out four separate clinical trials around its Telepathy system. BCIs have been studied in academia for decades, and several other companies, including Synchron, Paradromics and Precision Neuroscience, are developing their own systems. Paradromics on Monday announced it successfully implanted its BCI in a human for the first time. It's not clear what devices Neuralink will look to develop next, but Musk has for years espoused grand ambitions for the brain tech startup. He has even claimed that he would be willing to get an implant himself. One of the capabilities Musk has repeatedly highlighted is the ability to restore vision to blind patients. Neuralink received a 'Breakthrough Device' designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a device called Blindsight. This designation is granted to medical devices that have the potential to provide improved treatment for debilitating or life-threatening conditions. In a post on his social media platform X in September, Musk said Blindsight will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see. Neuralink still has a long road ahead before it can commercialize these technologies.
CNBC
02-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Elon Musk's Neuralink raises $650 million in fresh capital
Elon Musk's brain tech startup Neuralink has closed a $650 million funding round, the company announced on Monday. ARK Invest, Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners and other firms participated in the round, according to a release. Neuralink said the fresh capital will help the company bring its technology to more patients and develop new devices that "deepen the connection between biological and artificial intelligence." Neuralink is building a brain-computer interface, or a BCI, which is a system that translates brain signals into commands for external technologies. The company's first system, called Telepathy, involves 64 "threads" that are inserted directly into the brain. The threads are thinner than a human hair and record neural signals through 1,024 electrodes, according to Neuralink's website. The initial aim of the technology is to help patients with severe paralysis restore some independence. As of Monday, five patients have been implanted with Neuralink's technology, and are able to "control digital and physical devices with their thoughts," the release said. Neuralink is currently carrying out four separate clinical trials around its Telepathy system. BCIs have been studied in academia for decades, and several other companies including Synchron, Paradromics and Precision Neuroscience are developing their own systems. Paradromics on Monday announced it successfully implanted its BCI in a human for the first time. It's not exactly clear what devices Neuralink will look to develop next, but Musk has for years espoused grand ambitions for the brain tech startup. He has even claimed that he would be willing to get an implant himself. One of the capabilities Musk has repeatedly highlighted is the ability to restore vision to blind patients. Neuralink received a "Breakthrough Device" designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a device called Blindsight. This designation is granted to medical devices that have the potential to provide improved treatment for debilitating or life-threatening conditions. In a post on his social media platform X in September, Musk said Blindsight will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see. Neuralink still has a long road ahead before it can commercialize these technologies.
Mint
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Mint
Elon Musk's father Errol advises him to 'get some rest', 'visit India'; here's why
Describing Elon Musk, the Tesla founder and chief of social media platform X, as 'an energetic person', his father, Errol Musk, advised his son to 'get some rest', reported NDTV. According to the report, on being asked to give advice to his son, Errol Musk laughed a bit and said that though his son is 53, he is like someone in his early 30s. "Get some rest. Keep it up if you can. I do say to him, when I speak to him, 'try and take a break'," Musk Sr said while speaking with NDTV. "He is 53. People at 53 say, 'Oh, we are too old'. But he is like someone in his early 30s." Not only did Musk Sr. advise his son to take some rest, but he also stated that the latter should travel to India. Elon Musk was slated to visit India in April, but had put the plans on hold, citing pressing issues at Tesla. "I am quite surprised he has not been to India. If he does not, he is making a big mistake..." Musk's father said. Among other advice Errol Musk had for his son Elon was to focus on Neuralink, a transhumanist neurotechnology company which he had founded. As per details, Neuralink develops implantable brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to connect the human brain with computers. It enhances cognitive abilities and treat neurological disorders. "The company amazes me. They are talking about rejoining spinal cords... enabling the blind to see... restoring hearing to people. It is not 'way in the future'. It is soon. They are being made... they already have brain implants that quadriplegics can operate computers," Errol Musk said. Though on hold, it is expected that whenever Elon Musk visits India, he might include talks on investment, with Tesla and Starlink as the centrepoints of discussion. On the contrary, Musk's relationship with Indian regulatory authorities remains complicated, as the government's stake in content moderation with X is debated.
