Blindsight: a chip that restores vision

Imagine a person who has lost their sight being able to see again. Sounds like science fiction, right? But at Neuralink — Elon Musk’s company — they’re seriously aiming to make it happen, and maybe even sooner than you think.

Recently, Neuralink announced that by the end of 2025, they plan to implant a device called Blindsight into a human for the first time. The goal? To help blind people see. It’s one of the boldest and most fascinating steps in the world of neurotechnology. Let’s break it down.

What is Neuralink?

Neuralink is a company founded by Elon Musk (yes, the same person behind Tesla and SpaceX). Its mission is to connect the human brain with computers. The plan is to implant tiny chips in the brain to help treat various conditions — including paralysis, hearing loss, and now, blindness.

Earlier this year, Neuralink implanted its first chip into a human. With it, a person with limited mobility was able to control a computer using only their thoughts. Now, the company is moving forward with its next step — testing the Blindsight device.

What is Blindsight?

Blindsight is a new Neuralink device specifically designed to restore vision. According to Elon Musk, it’s “intended for people who have completely lost their sight — even if the eyes or optic nerves no longer work.”

Blindsight doesn’t cure eye diseases directly. Instead, it connects directly to the part of the brain responsible for vision. It sends signals straight to the brain, allowing a person to perceive the world in a new way.

How will it work?

Imagine a small device that “sees” the world around it like a camera and sends that image straight into the brain. Blindsight uses sensors, chips, and special software to transmit signals directly to the visual cortex.

As a result, the person receives “digital vision.” It won’t be the same as natural sight — at least not at first — but it may allow them to perceive light, movement, shapes, and even, potentially, faces.

Over time, the brain could learn to interpret these signals more effectively — as if it were learning a new language.

When will human trials begin?

Neuralink plans to begin implanting Blindsight in humans by the end of this year. So, we might soon hear about the first person to try the device.

But it won’t be available to the public right away. First, the company needs to make sure the technology is safe and truly works. If successful, Blindsight could become more widely available in the coming years.

Even so, the very start of human trials is already a huge milestone.

What are the risks?

Any brain surgery carries risks. Neuralink uses a specialized surgical robot (yes, they actually developed a robot for this task) to perform the implant with incredible precision. But potential complications — like infection, rejection, or device failure — can’t be ruled out.

Other important questions remain: What happens if the chip breaks? Can it be removed? How well will the brain adapt to artificial signals?

These are exactly the kinds of questions the upcoming research will aim to answer.

Why does this matter?

Blindsight isn’t just a breakthrough for people who are blind — it’s a major leap forward for the future of technology. If successful, brain implants could help with many other conditions, like memory loss, depression, hearing impairment, or even enhancing learning.

But this also raises big ethical questions: How far should we go in altering brain function? Are we ready to connect our thoughts to machines? These discussions are only just beginning.

What does Elon Musk say?

As usual, Musk is full of enthusiasm. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote that Blindsight will “restore vision with resolution beyond that of normal sight.” He also said the device would work “even if someone was born blind or had completely lost their vision.”

It all sounds like science fiction — but Blindsight might become reality very soon. If the technology works, it could be one of the most extraordinary innovations of our time. Just imagine: someone seeing their loved ones again after years — or even for the first time in their life.