MissedHuman trials by late 2021
“Neuralink is working super hard to ensure implant safety & is in close communication with the FDA. If thing…”
goalposts: 2020 → 2021 · moved 1×
“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 — quoted by Business Insider ↗
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 — quoted by Business Insider ↗
Dec 31, 2020
Deadline passed. 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 · Jun 18, 2026
Status: Missed · 1,995 days past due. Never happened.
Human trials by 2020 was unveiled in July 2019 with Elon Musk stating that Neuralink is looking to start trials on humans next year. Patients with severe brain injuries, such as those from stroke, cancer lesions, or congenital conditions, are affected and waiting for potential treatments. This follows Neuralink's pattern of similar predictions, including animal tests on rats and monkeys that demonstrated brain-controlled computing. The initiative matters as it aims to secure FDA approval for clinical trials, enabling brain-computer interfaces to restore functions like speech and sight while aligning with broader healthcare technology trends.
Receipts
LAST CHECKED 2026-06-18- [SOURCE] Neuralink Launch Event, Jul 16 2019 — quoted by Business Insider
- [REPORT] cnbc.com
- [SOURCE] Neuralink launch event (original, now private)
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Missed
Delivered · LateHuman trials in 6 months (mid-2023)
“We've submitted, I think, most of our paperwork to the FDA, and we think probably in about six months we sh…”
goalposts: 2020 → 2021 → mid-2023 → 2024 · moved 2×
DeliveredFirst human implant 2024
“The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well. Initial results show …”
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