Elon Musk, having recently concluded his visit to the White House, is back at the helm of his numerous ventures. Among these is Neuralink, a company specializing in brain implants, which has just announced the successful closure of a Series E funding round, raking in an impressive $650 million (approximately 570 million euros).

In an official statement, Neuralink revealed that this substantial investment round included participation from prominent backers such as ARK Invest, DFJ Growth, Founders Fund, G42, Human Capital, Lightspeed, QIA, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, Valor Equity Partners, and Vy Capital, among others.

Although the company hasn't disclosed the valuation with which this capital expansion took place, venture capital publications have recently pegged Neuralink's worth at a staggering $9 billion.

The fresh influx of funds is set to propel Neuralink's mission of widening patient access to its cutting-edge technology while pioneering future devices aimed at enhancing the fusion of biological intelligence and artificial intelligence.

Since their last funding round in August 2023, five individuals with severe paralysis have successfully employed Neuralink's technology to control digital and physical devices with mere thoughts. This innovation marks a significant leap in empowering these individuals to regain autonomy.

In January 2024, Neuralink proudly announced its first computer implant in a human brain. Musk, via social media, assured that the patient was recovering well, with initial results showcasing promising detection of neuronal electrical impulses. The second successful implant was completed in August, where a quadriplegic patient began controlling a cursor with his mind in under five minutes, surpassing previous benchmarks for speed and precision.

Further highlighting its ambitions, Neuralink has embarked on clinical trials at esteemed institutions such as the Barrow Neurological Institute, the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami, the University Health Network (Toronto Western Hospital), and the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Neuralink's vision extends beyond mind-controlled devices to include programs for restoring vision and speech. The company's Blindsight device promises to enable sight for individuals without eyes or optic nerves, potentially offering even those born blind a chance to see, albeit initially at a low resolution akin to Atari graphics.

In a groundbreaking announcement last November, Neuralink received permission to test technology aimed at allowing paraplegics to operate robotic arms. Though still in its infancy, this trial marks a pivotal step forward, albeit one that might take years to fully develop and approve.

"We have invested significantly in expanding the number of neurons and brain regions our device interacts with, aiming to unlock new dimensions of human potential," states the company, underscoring its commitment to pioneering advancements that redefine human capabilities.