Elon Musk has said Neuralink intends to begin “high-volume production” of its brain–computer interface implants and shift to an entirely automated surgical procedure in 2026, setting out the company’s next manufacturing and clinical ambitions as it expands early human testing.
Neuralink’s current implant, designed for people with severe paralysis, is intended to let users control computers and other devices through recorded brain activity. The first human recipient used the system to play video games, browse the internet, post on social media and move a cursor on a laptop.
Neuralink will start high-volume production of brain-computer interface devices and move to a streamlined, almost entirely automated surgical procedure in 2026.
Device threads will go through the dura, without the need to remove it. This is a big deal. https://t.co/nfNmtFHKsp
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 31, 2025
The company began human trials in 2024 after addressing safety concerns raised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA had initially rejected the company’s application in 2022.
Neuralink said in September 2025 that 12 people worldwide with severe paralysis had received its implants, up from seven reported in June. The company said recipients were using the system to control “digital and physical” tools with their thoughts, and it disclosed cumulative use of about 2,000 days and more than 15,000 hours across participants.
The move towards “high-volume” production implies a shift from limited, bespoke manufacturing typical of early-stage implantable devices to a scaled process capable of supporting larger trials and, eventually, broader clinical deployment. Neuralink has not published a target number of devices for 2026, and “high-volume” is not a defined regulatory term.
Musk’s reference to a fully automated surgical procedure is likely to be scrutinised by clinicians and regulators because implantation involves placing ultra-thin electrode threads into the brain. Neuralink has described the N1 Implant as a fully implantable, wireless device that records neural activity via 1,024 electrodes. The company has also described a dedicated surgical robot used to insert the threads.
Alongside engineering and clinical development, Neuralink has been building funding and trial infrastructure. In June 2025 it closed a $650 million funding round, which the company said would support development and expand patient access. The round came as the company began clinical trials in multiple countries and it had received FDA “breakthrough device” designations tied to planned speech- and vision-related products.
In Great Britain, Neuralink announced a clinical study with University College London Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals, with eligibility including paralysis caused by spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). UCLH said in July 2025 it had been selected as the lead UK site for the GB-PRIME study to evaluate the safety and functionality of Neuralink’s brain–computer interface technology.
Neuralink’s plans sit within a competitive and fast-moving neurotechnology field. One rival, Synchron, is developing an implant that is inserted through a blood vessel rather than through open brain surgery. Wired reported in 2025 that Synchron was integrating Nvidia’s AI tooling and exploring extended interfaces for users with paralysis. Separately, Synchron has disclosed early feasibility data indicating it met a primary safety endpoint in a small, six-patient study.
For Neuralink, a 2026 push towards automation and higher output would arrive before any public timeline for full regulatory approval of its core implant in the United States. Investor documents cited in a Reuters report in July 2025 indicated Neuralink projections extending to 2031, including ambitions to scale annual implants and develop multiple product lines beyond its initial communication-focused system.
