AI illustration: First human Neuralink implant
NeuralinkNeuralink & Health
Delivered · Late

First human Neuralink implant

“We hope to have this aspirationally in a human patient before the end of next year.”
— Elon Musk · Jul 16, 2019 · Neuralink Launch Event, Jul 16 2019 — CNET public re-upload of the original presentation (Elon Musk speaking) ↗
What actually happened

At its July 16 2019 launch event Neuralink, with Musk presenting, said it aimed to start testing on human patients in 2020 pending FDA approval. That did not happen; FDA human-trial approval came in May 2023 and the first human Neuralink implant was performed in late January 2024 (announced by Musk Jan 29 2024). The 2020 target was missed by more than three years. MIT Technology Review, July 17 2019 — Neuralink's plan to begin human testing in 2020; cross-checked against Wikipedia/Neuralink timeline for the Jan 2024 first implant ↗

The Progression

Jul 16, 2019
The promise: “We hope to have this aspirationally in a human patient before the end of next year.” · Neuralink Launch Event, Jul 16 2019 — CNET public re-upload of the original presentation (Elon Musk speaking) ↗
2022
Timeline pushed to 2022.
Goalpost #1
2023
Timeline pushed to 2023.
Goalpost #2
Jan 28, 2024
Delivered · Late — 0.6 years late. At its July 16 2019 launch event Neuralink, with Musk presenting, said it aimed to start testing on human patients in 2020 pending FDA approval. That did not happen; FDA human-trial approval came in May 2023 and the first human Neuralink implant was performed in late January 2024 (announced by Musk Jan 29 2024). The 2020 target was missed by more than three years. MIT Technology Review, July 17 2019 — Neuralink's plan to begin human testing in 2020; cross-checked against Wikipedia/Neuralink timeline for the Jan 2024 first implant ↗
Today · Sep 17, 2026
Status: Delivered · Late · 0.6 years late. It happened — eventually.
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Receipts

LAST CHECKED 2026-06-22

Neuralink’s record

Delivered
1
50% of resolved claims delivered.
Missed
1
Deadline passed, still no-show.
Still open
7
On the clock now. All 9 Neuralink claims →

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