Neuralink's Former President Reports Successful Vision Chip Implantation

Science Corporation CEO Max Hodak announced the company has successfully implanted its self-developed PRIMA vision chip into its first patient suffering from Stargardt disease, a genetic condition that progressively damages central vision. Hodak, formerly president and co-founder of Neuralink, presented at TechCrunch Disrupt, framing the PRIMA project as part of Science Corporation's broader goal in developing novel brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). "The retina is part of the central nervous system," Hodak said. "We consider cochlear implants, retinal prosthetics, and motor prosthetics to be different types of BCIs." The PRIMA chip has already received commercial approval in Europe for treating blindness caused by geographic atrophy, an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration. The company believes the technology can be applied to various conditions, including Stargardt disease, which currently lacks a curative treatment. The first Stargardt patient received the PRIMA implant in May in Sydney, Australia. During their initial rehabilitation session, the patient was able to see individual letters, and by the second session, they could read words. The device requires a one-hour surgery to implant a microchip behind the eye, replacing degenerated photoreceptor cells. Patients also wear glasses with a camera that transmits visual data to the chip, which acts as an artificial photoreceptor. Hodak indicated that next-generation products are in development, with human trials expected next year. "Within five years, we hope to achieve a level of vision approaching natural sight," he stated. Science Corporation's ultimate mission involves understanding the origins of consciousness and building artificial brains.