Invasive: Neuralink Leads, Synchron Less Invasive
Musk's NeuralLink uses a surgical robot to implant flexible electrodes, already enabling paralyzed patients to play chess by thought; Synchron delivers stent-electrodes through blood vessels — no craniotomy, easier to scale. In China, Neuracle's flexible electrodes are in human trials. For consumers, invasive BCI is at least 5-10 years away.
Non-Invasive: Available Now but Limited
BrainCo's bionic hand achieves piano-level fine control from EMG signals — worn by an Asian Games torchbearer; Emotiv and Muse consumer headbands monitor focus and sleep, but "thought-typing" is far away. Non-invasive BCI's current value is health monitoring; long-term value is brain-computer interaction.