Neuralink will begin high-volume production of its brain-computer interface devices this year and move to an almost entirely automated surgical procedure, Elon Musk announced in a post on X on December 31. The company also plans a technical shift: device threads will penetrate the dura (the protective membrane around the brain) directly, eliminating the need to remove it. Musk called this "a big deal."
The company reports 12 patients with severe paralysis have received implants globally as of September, up from seven in June. Those recipients are controlling digital interfaces with their thoughts, playing video games, browsing the web, and posting on social media. One patient, Brad Smith, who has ALS, wrote on X that he types with his brain as his primary communication method.
Neuralink raised $650 million in a Series E round in June at a reported $9 billion valuation, with backing from Sequoia Capital, ARK Invest, Founders Fund, and others. The company began human trials in 2024 after addressing FDA safety concerns that initially blocked approval in 2022. Trials have since expanded to Canada and the UK, where a patient controlled a computer hours after implantation.
The automation push aims to standardize what's currently delicate neurosurgery. Whether Neuralink can actually scale a brain implant procedure to "high-volume" levels remains unproven, and long-term safety data is limited given the trials only began recently.
The Bottom Line: Neuralink is betting it can turn experimental brain surgery into something closer to routine manufacturing by year's end.
QUICK FACTS
- 12 patients implanted globally (as of September 2025, company-reported)
- $650 million raised in June 2025 Series E
- $9 billion pre-money valuation (per Semafor)
- Human trials began in 2024 after FDA clearance
- Clinical sites: U.S., Canada, UK, UAE
