❓WHAT HAPPENED: China launched its first clinical trial of an invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) device, enabling a patient to play video games using only his mind.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Researchers at the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence (CEBSIT) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, owned and operated by the Chinese Communist Party, and a 37-year-old man who previously lost all four limbs.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The trial was conducted in Shanghai, with future market availability projected by 2028.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The electrode is so soft that the force required to bend it is comparable to the interaction force between two neurons in the brain,” said Zhao Zhengtuo, a researcher at CEBSIT.
🎯IMPACT: The device aims to improve the quality of life for amputees and those with spinal cord injuries, and it has potential future applications in robotics and artificial intelligence.
China has initiated its first clinical trial for invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) devices, marking a significant step in the global race to develop advanced neural technology. The initial trial involved a 37-year-old man who previously lost all four limbs in a high-voltage electrical accident. Using the BCI device, the patient was able to play video games solely with his mind.
The research was conducted at the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence (CEBSIT) within the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This group answers directly to and is controlled by the Communist Party-run State Council of China.
The technology employs tiny electrodes inserted through a small opening in the skull to read brain activity. According to Zhao Zhengtuo, a researcher at CEBSIT, “The electrode is so soft that the force required to bend it is comparable to the interaction force between two neurons in the brain.” This design minimizes immune responses and rejection reactions, enabling long-term compatibility with brain tissue.
The research team aims to further develop the technology to control robotic arms or artificial intelligence (AI) agents. The CEBSIT device is reportedly smaller and more flexible than its U.S. counterpart, Neuralink, the brain-chip startup founded by Elon Musk. Neuralink has also been testing invasive BCI devices on human patients, with Musk envisioning millions of people using the technology within the next decade.
While Neuralink’s early trials have focused on assisting individuals with quadriplegia, Musk has suggested that the technology could eventually augment human intelligence and allow humans to merge with AI. Neuralink recently raised $650 million to expand its testing program globally and further its technological capabilities.
China’s CEBSIT anticipates its BCI device will be market-ready by 2028. The lab, based in Shanghai, targets medical applications for amputees and individuals with spinal cord injuries.
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