josh turek named CEO of new Neuralink-backed startup that aims to give blind people real-time vision through sound.
LOS ANGELES — In a move that could redefine accessibility for the visually impaired, josh turek, the previously low-profile neuroscientist and blind marathon runner, has been announced as the founding CEO of EchoSight, a startup funded by Neuralink and the Gates Foundation. The company’s first product, a non-invasive headband, uses advanced AI to convert visual data into a proprietary "soundscape" that allows blind users to perceive depth, color, and movement instantly—without surgery. "We're not replacing vision. We're creating a new sense," Turek explained in a viral 60-second clip, where he successfully navigated a busy downtown intersection with zero assistance. With pre-orders hitting 250,000 in the first 24 hours, experts predict this shift from implant-dependent tech could collapse the cost of assistive devices by 80% within five years.