China has entered the global brain-computer interface race with its first successful human trial of a wireless brain implant. Researchers at the Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Fudan University led the groundbreaking clinical trial on a paralyzed patient.
The patient used only his thoughts to control a computer and play video games during the test. This advancement places China alongside the U.S., where companies like Neuralink have led similar efforts. As China accelerates development in neurotechnology and AI, this milestone marks a critical turning point in global competition over next-generation medical and cognitive enhancement technologies.
China Achieves First Human Brain Chip Implant
Bloomberg reports that Chinese scientists have successfully conducted the country’s first clinical trial involving an invasive brain-computer interface (BCI), enabling a patient with total paralysis to control digital devices using thought alone. This achievement places China alongside the United States as one of only two nations to have advanced invasive BCI research to the clinical trial stage.
Surgeons performed the landmark procedure on March 25, 2025, at Fudan University’s Huashan Hospital in Shanghai. They collaborated with the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The team surgically implanted a wireless, high-throughput BCI system into a patient left tetraplegic after a high-voltage accident 13 years ago.
Remarkably, within just two to three weeks of rehabilitation, the patient was able to operate computer programs, such as racing games and chess, using only neural signals. Describing the experience, the patient expressed a profound sense of regained autonomy. He said,
Now I can control the computer with my thoughts. It feels like I can move at will.
Ultra-Flexible Neural Interface Sets New Global Standard
The implant used in the trial is the smallest and most flexible brain-controlled device developed so far. It measures 26 mm in diameter and is under 6 mm thick, roughly the size of a coin. Its flexibility exceeds Neuralink’s device by over 100 times, improving biocompatibility and lowering the risk of brain tissue damage.
Designed by Zhao Zhengtuo’s research team at CEBSIT, the device features neural electrodes that are thinner than a human hair and capable of high-density, long-term signal acquisition from single neurons. These electrodes have undergone successful testing in rodents, non-human primates, and now in human trials, proving both their safety and performance.
Shi Yongyong, deputy director at CEBSIT, said in a statement that,
BCI technology establishes a direct communication and control connection between the brain and the external world. It is not only a window to understanding the brain’s information processing mechanisms but also a direction and means for treating diseases and exploring the next generation of human-computer interaction modes
Moreover, researchers confirmed stable post-operative performance, with no infections or electrode failures reported. The system’s upgradability was also validated through successful replacement experiments in animal models.
Toward Commercialization and Future Human-Robot Integration
The research team is now preparing to help the patient control a robotic arm for daily tasks like grasping objects. They aim to enable functions such as lifting, moving, and interacting with physical items through brain-machine coordination. Future goals involve integrating complex devices like robotic dogs and embodied AI to expand the user’s physical abilities.
Lu Junfeng of Huashan Hospital highlighted the precision involved in the implantation process, noting that sub-millimeter accuracy was achieved in placing the electrodes within the brain’s motor cortex. This precision maximizes both effectiveness and safety.
Additionally, China is laying the groundwork for clinical adoption of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology with new pricing rules issued in March 2025. The National Healthcare Security Administration introduced the guidelines to support reimbursement and standardization of future BCI procedures. CEBSIT expects regulatory approval by 2028 and aims to commercialize its implant that decodes neural signals in milliseconds. The system could revolutionize treatment for ALS, amputations, and spinal injuries, solidifying China’s leadership in brain-machine integration.
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