Elon Musk’s Neuralink is now testing Blindsight brain implants on monkeys. The implant is to restore vision but also give superhuman abilities using infrared vision. So, will this turn humans into superhumans? The tests have shown the implant allows monkeys to detect things that aren’t physically present as it stimulates their visual areas in the brain. Human trials are in the plans; however, the device isn’t actually approved for human use yet.
If successful, these implants may give humans superpowers that go beyond normal vision. The device is made to give vision to impaired people but may as well enhance normal human vision with its abilities. In a recent press conference a Neuralink engineer, Joseph O’Doherty claimed that the device stimulated vision in the monkey’s brain. It was successful two thirds of the time when the monkey was judged to respond to stimulus.
So far these are the only findings that have come from the Neuralink project dealing with vision restoration. However the research on monkeys has been going on for years now. They plan to test on humans soon if approved. The device offers hope to people who are visually impaired. Neuralink’s technology will help treat medical conditions that don’t yet have a solution. More research and testing is needed before the implant is done on humans.
Musk’s goal here is to advance medicine for humans and their communication. It’s his solution towards preventing the risk of digitally super-intelligence. He’s also working on a brain-machine that works using xAI Corp.
Many people have mixed views on Neuralink using monkeys for testing; however, the company has defended their choice. They went on to say that the monkeys had volunteered. In previous years, several monkeys with brain implants have died. However, Neuralink has also been successful with some implants.
🚨 Elon Musk on Neuralink:
“Neuralink is building brain computer interfaces. The first part is called telepathy, allows someone who has lost the use of their body to control a computer or a phone just by thinking. In fact, you can interact with a number of people who’ve done… pic.twitter.com/yhf4uIU8Mf
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) May 4, 2025
They have shown video proof of monkeys playing video games after the implants. That too he’s doing it telepathically. In humans, Neuralink has given a new life to an impaired, Noland Arbaugh who was left crippled after an accident. Now he can communicate using his brain chip and even operate computers using it.
In an interview, Noland explains the device is beyond Elon Musk’s, it’s science. Although it’s controversial for now, the device has allowed him to have a relatively easier life. Just with the brain implant, he is better at video games than before. He does show concern towards lack of privacy as all his thoughts and feelings are exported to the servers but he hopes the chip goes further in technology.
CAN’T SEE, CAN’T WALK? ELON’S WORKING ON THAT
Forget flying cars—Elon is out here casually curing blindness and giving people robot limbs you can control with your brain.
His Neuralink brain chip can literally plug into your skull and talk to Tesla’s Optimus robot—so if you’ve… https://t.co/K2IqI0STaG pic.twitter.com/6T1405RZHW
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 20, 2025
Apart from this he does not have any NDAs to not talk about the device. He feels like he’s helping in the research too. Neuralink has big plans of digitally tapping into human brains for good. By the end of the year we may get to see how the superhuman vision implants work when approved for trials.
