Brain interface companies have seemingly entered an unspoken race to implant the most humans with brain-computer interface (BCI) chips, with the Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR), NeuCyber NeuroTech, and North America’s Neuralink leading the charge.
With a goal of implanting brain chip interfaces in 13 individuals by the end of the year, the Beijing-based Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR) and NeuCyber NeuroTech have already completed a chip insertion in a participant referred to as Beinao No. 1. So far, three participants have received implants—matching Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which has also implanted its device in three North American participants.
“Next year, after getting regulatory approval, we will do formal clinical trials that will include around 50 patients,” said Luo Minmin, director of CIBR and NeuCyber’s chief scientist, to reporters at the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing.
This could potentially make the Beinao No. 1 chip implant—and CIBR and NeuCyber—the leading BCI company in the world. However, optically, Elon Musk’s Neuralink appears to be leading the race, possibly due to its technological innovation and the company’s high-profile ambitions.
Last July, China announced its bold intention to set new global standards for brain-machine interfaces. The country unveiled plans to establish official BCI standards similar to those developed by Neuralink. The initiative aims to close the technology gap with the West and escalate China’s competition with the United States in brain-computer interface development.
To create pioneering new guidelines, China’sMinistry of Industry and Information Technology said it plans to build a committee to oversee the effort and release a roadmap outlining the next steps.
According to Chinese state media outlet Xinhua, the technology was “independently developed” and is described as the country’s first “high-performance invasive BCI.”
Other North America-based companies, such as Synchron, are also advancing rapidly. Synchron’s approach is considered less invasive than Neuralink’s, using a stent-like device implanted through blood vessels to avoid open-brain surgery. Backed by billionaire investors Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, the company represents the growing competition among top tech moguls in the race to revolutionize brain-computer interfaces.
Luo stated that while CIBR and NeuCyber seek investors, potential Beinao partners must be “forward-looking” and not focused on short-term profits.
“In the short-term when it comes to BCI, the stuff that can be sold is very limited,” said Luo, adding that Beinao had no ties to the Chinese military.
Valkyrie
Featured in Chinese state media videos this month, the Beinao No. 1 brain chip was shown enabling patients with paralysis to control robotic arms, even performing tasks like pouring water and transmitting thoughts onto a computer screen. These demonstrations mirror results shown by Neuralink, which has been in development since 2017. With both companies now neck and neck regarding results, global interest in this technology has surged.
“Since news of Beinao No. 1’s successful human trials came out, we have received countless pleas for help,” Luo says.
In 2024, CIBR and NeuCyber had not yet begun human trials. Still, they had announced the successful testing of their invasive Beinao No. 2 chip in a monkey, allowing it to control a robotic arm. However, the company’s internal progress has rapidly caught up with Neuralink and Elon Musk’s team.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts theRebelliously Curious podcast,which can be found onThe Debrief’s YouTube Channelon all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X:@ChrissyNewtonand atchrissynewton.com.