China beats Elon Musk to approve world’s first commercial brain-chip:Know everything about NEO, designed for paralysis patients and outpacing Neuralink

What if a person could move a hand, control a computer, or communicate using nothing but their thoughts? That future may be arriving sooner than expected.
In a breakthrough for brain-computer technology, China has approved the world’s first commercially available invasive brain chip, moving ahead of Elon Musk’s Neuralink in the race to connect the human brain with machines. The device, called ‘NEO,’ has been developed by Chinese company Neuracle Technology in partnership with researchers at Tsinghua University.
Unlike experimental brain implants that are still undergoing testing, NEO has received approval for commercial medical use, making it the first brain-computer interface (BCI) of its kind to reach the market. What exactly is NEO? NEO is a coin-sized brain implant designed to help people who have severe paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries. The device allows users to control external equipment using signals generated by their brains. In its current form, the technology helps patients regain some hand-grasping abilities through a robotic glove, enabling them to perform basic daily tasks such as picking up objects, eating, and drinking. China has approved the device for patients aged between 18 and 60 who have paralysis in all four limbs but still retain some upper-arm function. How does the brain chip work?
Unlike many futuristic portrayals of brain chips, NEO does not read thoughts like a mind-reading machine. Instead, it captures electrical signals generated when a person intends to move. The implant is positioned between the skull and the brain, with sensors placed on the dura mater, the protective membrane covering the brain. These sensors detect brain activity and send the information to a computer. The computer then translates those signals into commands that can operate a robotic glove or other assistive devices. As a result, a patient can think about moving their hand, and the system attempts to turn that intention into physical movement. The patient who wrote his name again One of the most remarkable examples of the technology’s potential comes from Dong Hui, a 39-year-old man from China’s Henan province. Dong was paralysed from the neck down following a car accident several years ago. After receiving the implant as part of a clinical trial and completing months of rehabilitation, he was reportedly able to hold a pen and write his name for the first time since his accident. For many patients living with paralysis, achievements like these could represent life-changing improvements in independence. Also read: AI may soon consume water equaling consumption of 1.3bn people: UN warns, by 2030 data centres can use more electricity than Pak

How NEO differs from Elon Musk’s Neuralink
The comparison with Neuralink is inevitable. Elon Musk’s company has become the most famous name in brain-computer interfaces, promising a future where people can control computers, smartphones, and even robotic systems using only their thoughts. However, despite beginning human trials, Neuralink’s implant has not yet received approval for general commercial use. This means China has become the first country to move an invasive brain-computer interface beyond clinical trials and into commercial healthcare. Where does the competition really lie? The race between China and the United States is no longer limited to artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and electric vehicles. Brain-computer interfaces have now become another strategic battleground. For China, the goal is not just building a medical device. The country has identified brain-computer interfaces as a key technology sector and wants to become a global leader in the field before the end of the decade. For Neuralink, the focus is broader. Musk has repeatedly spoken about creating technology that could eventually allow humans to interact seamlessly with artificial intelligence. In the near term, both companies are targeting medical applications such as helping people with paralysis, speech disorders, and neurological conditions. But in the long run, the competition could expand into human-computer communication, cognitive enhancement, and entirely new ways of interacting with technology. Helping millions of people Researchers believe brain-computer interfaces could eventually help people suffering from: For many patients, these systems could restore abilities that were once considered permanently lost.
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Privacy, security, and ethics While the technology offers enormous medical potential, it also raises serious questions. Brain-computer interfaces collect highly sensitive neurological information. This has led experts to ask important questions about privacy, ownership of brain data, and cybersecurity. If future devices become connected to external networks, protecting users from hacking attempts could become a major challenge. Researchers also caution that implanting electronic devices into the human body carries risks, including infection, inflammation, tissue damage, and long-term biological complications. For now, however, most experts view the technology primarily as a medical breakthrough rather than a consumer product. A major moment for the brain-chip industry China’s approval of NEO marks one of the biggest milestones yet in the development of brain-computer interfaces. For the first time, an invasive brain implant has moved beyond experimental testing and entered commercial healthcare. The achievement gives China an early lead in a field that many scientists believe could transform medicine over the coming decades.