A 2022 report said Elon Musk had contacted Synchron about a possible deal, but it did not establish that an investment or partnership followed. The account also said he had expressed frustration with Neuralink’s progress; both claims came from anonymous sources, not a public statement by Musk.
What did the report say about Musk contacting Synchron?
On August 22, 2022, Fierce Biotech reported an account attributed to Reuters: Musk had contacted Synchron founder and CEO Thomas Oxley about a possible deal. Reuters’ account, as relayed by Fierce Biotech, was based on four current and former Neuralink employees familiar with the matter. Synchron declined to comment, and Neuralink did not respond to Fierce Biotech’s request. Fierce Biotech’s report
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The report did not say when the contact took place or clarify whether Musk was proposing a collaboration, a financial investment, or something else. It did not establish that Synchron accepted an offer or that any agreement resulted. The “frustrated with slow progress” framing came from the same anonymous-source account: the employees reportedly told Reuters that Musk had expressed frustration to the Neuralink team about its progress. That was not a public statement by Musk.
Why was Synchron seen as a potential alternative?
The report appeared against a backdrop of different technical approaches and a missed Neuralink timeline. Neuralink had publicly introduced its brain-implant plans in 2019, with an earlier target of starting human implantation by the end of 2020. By August 2022, Synchron had announced that it had begun implanting its Stentrode in a U.S. clinical trial after receiving FDA authorization. Those are milestones reported at the time, not a current comparison of the companies’ status. Fierce Biotech Synchron’s trial announcement
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That contrast may help explain why Synchron featured in the story, but it does not show why Musk made contact or what he hoped to achieve. The report did not provide those details.
How does Synchron’s Stentrode differ from Neuralink?
| Comparison | Synchron Stentrode | Neuralink approach described in reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Access and placement | Delivered through the jugular vein and positioned in a blood vessel near the brain. | Electrodes are placed directly in brain tissue through a surgical procedure. |
| Signal trade-off | Its position farther from individual neurons can mean weaker signal capture. | Direct placement in brain tissue is a different way to capture signals; the later reporting cited here does not establish a comparative clinical advantage. |
| Risks discussed in later reporting | The vascular route carries its own risks. | The more invasive implant approach carries risks associated with surgery and placement in brain tissue. |
The technical descriptions and trade-offs were discussed in later coverage, including a 2025 WIRED feature. They do not prove that either approach is safer, more effective, or commercially superior. WIRED’s feature on Synchron
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Did the contact mean Synchron was ahead of Neuralink?
No simple ranking follows from the 2022 report. Trial timing is one measure of progress, but it does not by itself establish how well a device works, what outcomes matter most to patients, or whether it will gain approval and reimbursement. An Associated Press overview in 2024 quoted University of Washington neurotechnology co-director Rajesh Rao saying Neuralink’s advantages “have yet to be shown.” The same report quoted Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation chief scientific officer Marco Baptista: “It’s a little early to know.” Associated Press overview
A 2025 WIRED feature likewise described unresolved questions about useful clinical outcome measures. BCI researcher Leigh Hochberg of Massachusetts General Hospital and Brown University said: “There are no ‘validated outcome measures that can be easily applied.’” The feature also described broader FDA approval and insurance coverage as challenges for Synchron. WIRED
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What happened after the 2022 report?
The later reporting does not verify that the reported contact led to a deal. In January 2026, Fierce Biotech reported that Musk had stated plans for Neuralink to scale up production and use a more automated surgical procedure during 2026. Those were announced plans, not proof they had been completed, and they do not confirm the earlier Synchron approach. Fierce Biotech’s 2026 report
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