Experimental brain implants are on the rise. What happens after the trials are over?

Angela Weiss / Getty Images In 2024, Elon Musk’s Neuralink put its first brain implant into a human amid doubt from scientists and allegations of animal cruelty. Two and a half years later, that first patient is one of more than 20 “neuralnauts” who use their implants to participate in the online world. Brain implants are becoming smaller, more compatible with human bodies, and dramatically more capable. People with paralysis can use brain-computer interfaces to produce speech almost…