Photo: Neuralink
Elon Musk’s brain-interface startup Neuralink has quietly joined a new clinical research effort aimed at developing a next-generation bionic eye, according to a report from Bloomberg. The study, listed in late July on ClinicalTrials.gov, is being spearheaded by the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) in collaboration with researchers from Spain — and now, Neuralink.
According to the official listing, the trial seeks to “address fundamental questions that will allow the development of a Smart Bionic Eye,” a prosthetic vision device that could restore sight to blind individuals using artificial intelligence. The experimental technology could eventually enable users to recognize faces, read, and navigate the outdoors independently.
Neuralink’s exact role in the trial remains unclear. However, the study description does state that researchers plan to use Neuralink patients “once available,” indicating the brain implant company may provide participants or data down the line. For now, the study is in its early stages and is currently enrolling participants by invitation only.
This marks one of Neuralink’s first public collaborations on human-focused clinical research, beyond its internal development of Blindsight — the company’s upcoming brain implant designed to restore and even enhance human vision.
Musk has previously claimed that Blindsight could deliver superhuman levels of eyesight and that it may launch as early as 2030. According to previous reports, Neuralink hopes to generate $1 billion in annual revenue from brain implants like Blindsight by 2031.
UCSB and Neuralink have yet to comment on the trial, but the collaboration signals growing momentum around Neuralink’s ambitious plans to merge AI with human biology — and help restore fundamental senses in the process.
Update (July 30, 2025): Neuralink is not involved with this medical trial, and the company’s mention in the filings was a data entry error. While Neuralink is actively developing its Blindsight implant that it hopes will eventually be able to restore human vision, the company isn’t working on an actual bionic eye — at least not yet.
