Neuralink Completes Engineering for 'Blindsight' BCI, Awaiting Approval
Elon Musk announced that Neuralink's second brain-computer interface product, 'Blindsight', has completed engineering development and is currently awaiting regulatory approval for human clinical trials. The device is designed to restore vision to the blind by transmitting camera-captured signals directly to the visual cortex. This milestone marks a significant step forward in neurotechnology for treating blindness by bypassing damaged eyes and optic nerves. If approved, it could open new pathways for medical therapies that input information directly into the human brain. In September 2024, the FDA granted 'Blindsight' Breakthrough Device Designation to accelerate the review process, though no public human trial results have been confirmed yet. Animal testing has been underway long-term, with one monkey having the device implanted continuously for three years by mid-2025.
## BACKGROUND
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) establish a direct communication pathway between the brain and external devices. While Neuralink's first product, Telepathy, translates brain signals to control computers, Blindsight works in reverse by stimulating the visual cortex to create visual perception.