There's Neuralink—and There's the Mind-Reading Company That Might Surpass It

The article contrasts two brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies aimed at helping people with paralysis regain autonomy: Elon Musk’s Neuralink and the startup Synchron. Unlike Neuralink, which requires invasive open-skull brain surgery, Synchron’s BCI is implanted via a less invasive procedure through blood vessels, avoiding direct brain surgery. The article follows Mark Jackson, a 65-year-old man with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), who uses Synchron’s implant to control a computer game with his thoughts. Despite his paralysis, Jackson can steer a cursor by thinking about specific hand movements, demonstrating how the system decodes neural signals linked to intended actions using AI-powered software. Jackson’s journey highlights the potential of Synchron’s technology to restore independence for people with neurodegenerative diseases. After a multi-hour implantation procedure and months of calibration, Jackson successfully connected the internal implant with an external unit, enabling him to interact with digital devices through thought alone. While the implant does not slow ALS progression, it offers a new