Eon Systems claims to have 'uploaded' a fly, but experts remain skeptical

The company says it has created a virtual 'embodied fly,' but scientists say the evidence is lacking

Mar. 16, 2026 at 12:49pm by Ben Kaplan

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Eon Systems, a San Francisco-based company working on 'digital human intelligence,' has claimed to have 'uploaded' a fly by creating a virtual simulation of a fly's brain and body. However, experts who spoke to The Verge say the evidence provided by Eon is insufficient to validate the company's claims, and they remain skeptical about whether a true 'uploaded animal' has been achieved.

Why it matters

Eon's claims, if true, would represent a major scientific breakthrough in the field of whole-brain emulation and digital consciousness. However, the lack of detailed methods, independent verification, and clear definitions around what constitutes a 'real uploaded animal' have led experts to question the validity of the company's assertions.

The details

Eon Systems says it has taken the 'FlyWire' connectome of a fruit fly brain, applied a simple neuron model, and used it to control a physics-simulated body, creating a virtual 'embodied fly.' The company has shared videos of this simulation online, which have been amplified by AI hype accounts. However, experts say the evidence provided, including a blog post by Eon, is insufficient to fully validate the claims. They note that the virtual fly's behavior should be evaluated against real data and clearly defined metrics, and that the team has not captured the full complexity of a fly's brain and body.

  • Eon Systems first shared the videos of the virtual fly online in early 2026.

The players

Eon Systems

A San Francisco-based company working on 'digital human intelligence' and claiming to have 'uploaded' a fly.

Alexander Wissner-Gross

Cofounder of Eon Systems, who shared the original clip of the virtual fly and hinted at an impending technological singularity.

Michael Andregg

CEO of Eon Systems, who posted a different cut of the virtual fly video and described it as a 'real uploaded animal.'

Shahab Bakhtiari

A professor leading the systems neuroscience and AI lab at the University of Montreal, who provided expert commentary on Eon's claims.

Alexander Bates

A research fellow in neurobiology at Harvard Medical School studying fly brains, who also provided expert commentary on Eon's claims.

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What they’re saying

“For a claim of this magnitude, I would expect something that should spell out the whole approach in specifics.”

— Alexander Bates, Research Fellow in Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School (The Verge)

“We [the research group and its academic collaborators] think this fly is conscious in a limited sense, it can smell, see, taste, etc.”

— Michael Andregg, CEO, Eon Systems (The Verge)

What’s next

Eon Systems has indicated that it plans to continue working towards a full digital emulation of a mouse brain within the next two years, though experts remain skeptical about the company's timeline and the validity of its claims.

The takeaway

Eon Systems' claims about 'uploading' a fly have generated significant hype, but the lack of detailed scientific evidence and the skepticism from experts suggest that the company has not yet achieved a true 'uploaded animal.' The case highlights the need for rigorous validation and clear definitions when making bold claims about breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and neuroscience.