Brain-computer interface trials accelerate as China approves first medical BCI
Tags AI
Brain-computer interface research is rapidly advancing, with China becoming the first country to approve a BCI for medical use. The number of BCI trial volunteers has surged in recent years. MIT Technology Review profiled Casey Harrell, a man with ALS who became the "first power user" of a brain implant that enabled him to maintain an income, reconnect with friends and family, and read to his daughter. Advances in technology are providing more features than ever, and BCI research is transitioning from lab experiments toward commercial medical products.
Technical significance
China's first medical BCI approval sets a regulatory precedent that other countries will likely follow. The technology's transition from lab to market within a few years represents an unusually fast timeline for a medical device, driven by the severity of conditions like ALS and the lack of alternative treatments.