• Paradromics completes first human brain implant, advancing BCI for speech restoration.
• Connexus implant, tested in epilepsy surgery, translates neural signals to text.
• Milestone positions Paradromics to compete with Neuralink in BCI innovation.

The successful completion of a human brain implant by Austin’s Paradromics is an important moment for its Connexus brain-computer interface (BCI). Doctors Matthew Willsey and Oren Sagher and a group of clinicians performed the procedure on May 14, 2025, at the University of Michigan. The implant was carefully put into place during surgery for epilepsy to observe brain signals and it was safely taken out after being in place for 10 minutes.

Matt Angle founded the company in 2015 and Paradromics aims to change difficult brain health conditions into problems that technology can fix. The implant is meant to give people who have spinal cord injuries, strokes or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) the ability to speak and write by reading neural impulses and creating words and letters. The device which costs an estimated $100,000, was developed after years of careful testing in sheep.

Paradromics takes an important place in a competitive field, where Elon Musk’s Neuralink has already tested its devices with three patients as April 2025. Now that Paradromics has shown its system works in humans, it is taking a step closer to selling it and helping people with severe brain issues.

Also Read: Neuralink Raises $650M for Brain Implant Trials in 3 countries

The procedure’s success highlights the potential of BCIs to revolutionize treatment for brain-related disorders. By leveraging neural signals, Paradromics seeks to enable communication for patients who have lost the ability to speak or move. The company’s focus on epilepsy surgery for its first human trial provided critical insights into brain signaling, paving the way for further development.

While the competition for dominance grows in artificial intelligence and the BCI field, Paradromics’ success proves its dedication to solving major healthcare problems with sophisticated technology and getting closer to helping people around the globe.