Neuralink's Ambitious Pursuit of Telepathy and Telekinesis

Elon Musk's brain-computer interface company, Neuralink, has taken a significant step towards realizing a future once confined to science fiction.

The company filed trademark applications for "Telepathy" and "Telekinesis" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), hinting at ambitious plans beyond its current technology.

The "Telepathy" trademark application describes an "implantable brain to computer interface for facilitating communication and control of software and hardware".

While initially aimed at helping paralyzed individuals control computers through thought, the application's language suggests broader ambitions, potentially including telepathic communication between humans with Neuralink implants35.

Neuralink's current system involves the "Link" brain implant that collects neural signals and software that translates these signals into cursor movements on a computer screen. Human trials began in January 2024, with three participants receiving experimental implants as part of an early feasibility study.

The "Telekinesis" trademark suggests Neuralink is working towards technology that would allow users to control physical objects with their thoughts. This aligns with Musk's vision of expanding human capabilities through brain-computer interfaces.

Trademark attorney Josh Gerben notes that these filings raise significant ethical, privacy, and security concerns surrounding thought-based communication and control. The "intent-to-use" basis of these applications legally requires Neuralink to have genuine plans to develop and commercialize these concepts in the coming years.

As Neuralink pushes forward, it's worth noting that over 45 clinical trials involving brain-computer interfaces are currently underway worldwide.

While Neuralink has garnered significant attention, other companies like Synchron, Blackrock Neurotech, and Onward Medical are also advancing BCI technology through less invasive or more versatile methods.

As the field of brain-computer interfaces continues to evolve, Neuralink's trademark applications signal a future where the line between mind and machine may become increasingly blurred, raising both exciting possibilities and important ethical questions.