The Former President of Neuralink: If Not Reformed, American Rich Will Have to Go to China for Cancer Treatment in 10 Years
"If we don't implement major regulatory reforms, in 10 years, if a wealthy American wants the most advanced cancer treatment, their only option might be to go to China."
On June 10 local time, Max Hodak, founder of Science — a U.S. brain-computer interface company and former president of Elon Musk’s Neuralink — issued this warning at the Semafor Summit held in San Francisco.
In his view, the United States faces a real risk of being overtaken by China in the field of life sciences. If medical research and regulatory system reforms are not accelerated, the country may eventually cede its global leadership in healthcare and scientific innovation to China. Hodak pointed out that China is doing "very well" in this area and that the U.S. should respond with "high vigilance."
As an industry insider long engaged in brain-computer interface research, Hodak's remarks are far from baseless. In March this year, China's National Medical Products Administration approved the commercial launch of the implantable brain-computer interface hand motor function compensation system (NEO system), jointly developed by Borui Kang Medical Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and a team from Tsinghua University.
On August 8, European tech news site The Next Web (TNW) noted that this marked the first time a national regulatory authority had approved a commercially available implantable brain-computer interface device globally.
This breakthrough stems from China’s ongoing efforts to advance strategic emerging industries. China has designated brain-computer interfaces as one of six strategic future industries and aims to achieve world-leading status in brain science technology by 2030. As a result, a number of Chinese startups in the field have rapidly emerged under this national strategy.
The report notes that the race for brain-computer interfaces has now evolved into a geopolitical contest. With strong policy support in China, Chinese companies are rapidly passing regulatory approvals and bringing innovations to clinical applications faster than ever. Meanwhile, U.S. companies face a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that is increasingly slow in approval processes, despite having started earlier—leading to growing constraints on innovation due to regulatory bottlenecks.
Currently, no brain-computer interface product in the United States has officially entered commercial use; all implant surgeries remain limited to research projects or special access programs.
Neuralink has implanted its N1 brain-computer interface devices into at least 21 patients within its research framework. The first participant has already demonstrated the ability to play chess, browse the web, and control a computer cursor using only thought. However, Neuralink has not yet obtained commercial sales authorization. The company plans to scale up production by 2026 and achieve near-fully automated implantation procedures—but realistically, it will still take several years to secure FDA approval for commercial sales.
Another U.S. company, Synchron, has developed the Stentrode brain-computer interface system, which can be implanted via the jugular vein without requiring skull-opening surgery. It is the first company to receive FDA permanent implantable brain-computer interface investigational device exemption (IDE) approval. They are currently advancing their pivotal clinical trial this year using $200 million in Series D funding.
Precision Neuroscience has taken a different path: in April 2025, it passed the FDA’s 510(k) clearance process and is collaborating with Medtronic USA to integrate its brain-computer interface technology into existing neurosurgical systems.
For decades, the United States has been seen as the global leader in brain-computer interface system development, consistently betting on high-risk, high-reward technological breakthroughs in hopes of fundamentally transforming medical technology and human-machine integration. But unexpectedly, it was China that crossed the finish line first.
A brain-computer interface is a technological system capable of recording brain activity or neuronal electrical signals and using them to control external devices—such as prosthetics, wheelchairs, or computer cursors—with the goal of helping patients with paralysis and other motor impairments regain mobility.
Its development has long faced a difficult technical trade-off: non-implanted solutions place sensors outside the scalp, offering higher safety but limited signal accuracy due to the skull’s interference; implanted solutions place sensors directly into the cerebral cortex, enabling higher-resolution neural signals, but face long-term challenges such as electrode displacement and biocompatibility issues.
According to a March report by Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, Neuralink adopts the second approach—the fully implanted method—and the challenges it faces highlight some of the key safety barriers to commercializing implantable systems. In 2024, about a month after the first patient received a Neuralink implant, 85% of the implanted electrode wires retracted or shifted, significantly reducing functionality. While Neuralink adjusted its system to respond to the remaining electrodes, electrode retraction remains a persistent concern for long-term performance.
In contrast, China’s first approved NEO system uses a hybrid technology approach between implantable and non-implantable methods. Reports suggest this strategy aligns with the Confucian concept of the “Golden Mean”—seeking balance and compromise—achieving a careful equilibrium between safety and precision. This has enabled Chinese researchers to become the first globally to launch a commercially approved brain-computer interface product, surpassing all competitors, including those from the United States.
At the Semafor Summit, Hodak admitted that brain-computer interfaces “sound crazy and hard to take seriously,” but their potential impact is so immense that it’s nearly impossible to imagine they wouldn’t be a central focus of national strategic development.
He stated that over the next decade, brain-computer interface technology is likely to become one of the “three to four most important lines” in global technological competition—and that “China has fully recognized its enormous potential.”
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867778763605130/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article represent those of the author(s) alone.