Elon Musk’s Interest in Synchron Revealed as Neuralink Delays Persist
SpaceX chief and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk reportedly approached Synchron, a New York–based developer in the brain-intervention field, with an offer to invest as he expressed disappointment with the pace of Neuralink’s long-term brain chip program. The information comes from a report by the South China Morning Post, which cites four people familiar with the discussions to outline the nature of the outreach. The report emphasizes that Musk did not simply test the waters; he explored a possible path that could range from financial support to a broader collaboration with Synchron, signaling his willingness to rethink parts of his portfolio in neural technology. The exact scope of any potential deal remains undecided, with discussions described as preliminary and exploratory rather than a formal negotiation of terms.
According to the SCMP account, Synchron founder and CEO Thomas Oxley was approached to gauge interest and potential strategic alignment. The report notes that, as of now, there is no public decision on whether the arrangement would focus on funding alone or evolve into a full-through partnership spanning research, development, and clinical deployment. This ambiguity is significant because it underscores differing timelines, regulatory hurdles, and risk tolerances that would shape any future collaboration between Synchron and Neuralink. The piece also highlights Synchron’s perceived lead in several development areas, including plans for human experimentation and medical regulatory pathways, which could potentially accelerate or alter the competitive landscape in neural interfaces.
Sources linked to Neuralink but not publicly named—described as current and former employees—suggest Musk’s critique centers on the tempo of human trials. Reported remarks point to frustration with progress on translating brain-computer interface concepts into clinical reality. Both Neuralink representatives and a Synchron spokesperson declined to comment on the discussions, a common stance during early-stage talks when specifics are still being negotiated and the parties assess compatibility, risk, and strategic fit. The absence of official statements does not diminish the intensity of the apparent interest, but it does keep the outcomes highly uncertain and subject to change as talks progress or stall.
In related context, Musk previously wrote for a Chinese publication to articulate the philosophical and practical motives behind the neural augmentation initiative. In that piece for China Cyberspace, he laid out the case for why brain-computer integration could be integral to the future of human-machine collaboration. The article is cited here as part of a broader pattern in which Musk has consistently framed neural technology as a forward-looking frontier, while stakeholders in the field weigh ethical, safety, and regulatory considerations that could influence whether investment translates into tangible clinical products or remains a strategic milestone in a longer timeline.