Elon Musk says Neuralink will scale implants and automate brain surgery by 2026. The claim raises questions about how invasive BCIs fit clinical, financial, and patient realities.

A Russian startup’s brain-implanted pigeons expose how neurotechnology can slip from research into ethically ambiguous uses when oversight is weak and incentives favour control over care.

Apple has patented EEG-sensing AirPods that could track brain and body signals, but technical, UX, and regulatory hurdles mean startups are likely to prove the category before Apple brings it mainstream.

Given this mix of acceleration and backlash, it’s worth asking a simple question: are BCIs still overhyped, and if so, where exactly is the gap between story and reality?