Elon Musk announced that Neuralink aims to restore hearing for deaf individuals by stimulating the auditory cortex directly. This development reflects the company’s expansion into sensory restoration, similar to its Blindsight implant, which is designed to restore vision through the visual cortex.
Musk stated that the brain chip could assist even those born deaf by sending signals to the auditory processing center, circumventing the need for conventional ear function. The Blindsight device received FDA breakthrough designation in September 2024, with human trials slated for 2026, pending regulatory approval.
Neuralink reported an increase in clinical trial participants from 12 in September 2025 to 21 in January 2026. The first recipient of the Blindsight implant, Noland Arbaugh, has utilized the device since January 2024 for activities such as playing video games and web browsing. The company has confirmed that no serious adverse events have occurred during its trials.
In December 2025, Musk revealed plans for high-volume production of brain-computer interface devices in 2026, aiming for significant automation in surgical procedures that would reduce thread insertion times to 1.5 seconds. The company completed a $650 million Series E funding round in June 2025, giving it a valuation of approximately $9 billion with investors like ARK Invest and Sequoia Capital.
Furthermore, Neuralink is delving into speech restoration. A patient named Kenneth received an implant in early 2026 that targets the speech cortex, allowing the system to decode and vocalize his imagined speech. This device has also received FDA breakthrough designation.
