WSJ Tech News Briefing: This Company Has a Plan to Beat Neuralink at the Brain-Computer Interface Game
Release Date: May 18, 2025

Introduction

In the latest episode of WSJ Tech News Briefing, host Tim Higgins and Christopher Mims delve into the rapidly evolving field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). The episode spotlights Precision Neuroscience, a pioneering company aiming to surpass industry heavyweight Neuralink in the BCI arena. Through an in-depth conversation with Michael Mager, Co-founder and CEO of Precision Neuroscience, listeners gain insights into the company's innovative technology, its potential impact on individuals with severe mobility issues, and the broader implications for the medical and technological landscapes.

Company Overview: Precision Neuroscience

Michael Mager introduces Precision Neuroscience as a healthcare-focused company dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals with severe paralysis. Unlike Neuralink, which is often perceived as a tech-driven venture aiming for human-AI symbiosis, Precision Neuroscience centers its mission on human health and medical applications.

Michael Mager [05:55]: "Precision Neuroscience is a healthcare company... our mission is really human health oriented."

The company leverages advanced BCI technologies to enable paralyzed individuals to interact with digital devices solely through their thoughts, fostering greater independence and improving mental health by reducing isolation.

Innovative Technology: The Brain-Computer Interface

Precision Neuroscience is developing a cortical surface array, a non-invasive BCI that sits conformally on the brain's surface without penetrating neural tissue. This technology stands out due to its minimal invasiveness and high-resolution data capture capabilities.

Michael Mager [02:00]: "The system sits conformally on the surface of the brain without penetrating into the brain and creates this incredibly rich picture of neural activity in real time."

Key features include:

• Thin Film Design: The array is only 22 microns thick, about a fifth of the width of a human hair, allowing it to cover large brain areas without causing damage.
• High Electrode Density: With 1,024 electrodes on a single film, Precision Neuroscience has set a world record for the highest bandwidth connection in BCI technology.
• Reversible and Safe: Unlike competing technologies that use penetrating electrodes, Precision’s approach is reversible, enhancing safety and reducing long-term risks.

Michael Mager [10:25]: "We've set the world record for the highest bandwidth connection ever achieved."

Competitive Landscape: Positioning Against Neuralink and Synchron

Precision Neuroscience operates in a highly competitive space dominated by companies like Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, and Synchron, backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. While Neuralink focuses on creating a seamless human-AI interface, Synchron collaborates with tech giants like Apple to integrate BCI functionalities into consumer devices.

Christopher Mims [02:47]: "They've got plenty of competition, including Elon Musk's startup Neuralink and Synchron which is backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates."

Michael Mager emphasizes that Precision Neuroscience differentiates itself through its health-centric approach and non-invasive technology, positioning the company to better meet medical needs without the extra complexities associated with more invasive methods.

Michael Mager [24:34]: "Our mission is really human health oriented. We're a healthcare company... it is not our mission to create a symbiosis between human and artificial intelligence."

Clinical Trials and FDA Approval

Precision Neuroscience has made significant strides in clinical validation, having implanted prototypes in 39 individuals over the past four years. Recently, the company secured FDA clearance for a device implantable for up to 30 days, marking a crucial milestone towards broader clinical application.

Michael Mager [15:50]: "We received our first FDA clearance, which is a really exciting milestone for Precision."

The FDA’s approval facilitates the expansion of clinical trials, allowing Precision to implant the device in more individuals and gather extensive data to refine the technology. This temporary implant approach underscores the company's commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.

Michael Mager [22:15]: "This is still a temporary implant... we can work with people and train the algorithms with days and weeks of data."

Future Vision and Market Potential

Looking ahead, Precision Neuroscience envisions a future where BCIs become commonplace for millions of individuals with varying degrees of paralysis and motor impairments. The company aims to scale its technology to cover single-digit millions in the U.S. alone, with aspirations to extend globally.

Michael Mager [13:06]: "This is a population that is at least single digit millions in the United States alone."

Financially, Precision Neuroscience anticipates a $400 billion total addressable market within the medical sector, independent of consumer-driven applications. The company's focus remains on creating sustainable, reimbursable medical solutions that can be supported by insurance providers.

Michael Mager [32:17]: "Morgan Stanley put out a report... estimating a $400 billion total addressable market for brain computer interfaces that was not driven by Neuralink."

Challenges and Considerations

Despite the promising advancements, Precision Neuroscience faces several challenges:

• High Development Costs: Bringing BCI technology from concept to market requires substantial investment, estimated between $250 to $500 million.

  Michael Mager [13:35]: "These devices will cost several thousand dollars each. In order to justify all that, we need reimbursement in the six figures."

• Regulatory Hurdles: Navigating FDA approvals is critical, though the company reports no significant delays despite broader governmental agency cuts.

  Michael Mager [28:03]: "There has been no perceptible impact from our side, our 510."

• Public Perception and Adoption: Overcoming skepticism towards mainstream medicine and ensuring widespread acceptance of BCI technology remains essential.

  Michael Mager [29:37]: "It's incumbent on me and other people who are in this industry to talk about what we're doing so people understand its medical application."

Conclusion

WSJ Tech News Briefing provides a comprehensive exploration of Precision Neuroscience’s ambitious efforts to revolutionize BCI technology. Michael Mager articulates a clear vision centered on improving the lives of severely paralyzed individuals through innovative, non-invasive BCIs. As Precision Neuroscience advances toward broader clinical adoption and eventual market penetration, the company stands poised to make significant contributions to both medical science and technological integration in healthcare.

Tim Higgins [31:08]: "The size of the prize here is tremendous... as something that is enabled by software, but which has a hardware element to them."

This episode underscores the transformative potential of BCIs, highlighting both the technological breakthroughs and the profound societal impacts that companies like Precision Neuroscience aim to achieve.

Notable Quotes:

• Michael Mager [02:00]: "The system sits conformally on the surface of the brain without penetrating into the brain and creates this incredibly rich picture of neural activity in real time."

• Michael Mager [10:25]: "We've set the world record for the highest bandwidth connection ever achieved."

• Michael Mager [32:17]: "Morgan Stanley put out a report... estimating a $400 billion total addressable market for brain computer interfaces that was not driven by Neuralink."

For more insights and detailed discussions, visit WSJ Tech News Briefing.