Elon Musk’s mind implant firm, Neuralink, has filed functions with the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) to solely personal the names Telepathy, Telekinesis, and others for future merchandise.
Neuralink, which Musk cofounded in 2016, is creating expertise referred to as a brain-computer interface, a system that decodes mind exercise to manage an output machine. Musk has mentioned that the corporate’s first product will likely be known as Telepathy and can enable individuals with paralysis the power to manage a pc or cellphone simply by pondering. However the Neuralink trademark software means that the corporate has ambitions of its expertise enabling telepathic communication not simply with digital gadgets, however between human beings.
Neuralink’s interface includes a mind implant that collects neural indicators and software program that interprets these indicators into cursor actions on a pc display screen. Up to now, three individuals have obtained Neuralink’s experimental implant as a part of an early feasibility examine. The primary, Noland Arbaugh, underwent mind surgical procedure in January 2024 to get the machine. In November, the corporate obtained permission to open a trial web site in Canada.
The corporate’s trademark software for Telepathy, filed on March 3, describes the product as “an implantable mind to pc interface for facilitating communication and management of software program and {hardware}.” The “facilitating communication” declare may imply that Telepathy is supposed to assist paralyzed individuals talk by the use of typing on an exterior machine, nevertheless it may additionally imply permitting telepathic communication between people with Neuralink implants.
“The query is, what sort of communication?” says trademark lawyer Josh Gerben, founding father of Gerben IP. “Generally issues disguise in plain sight in these functions.” Nonetheless, he cautions that claims on trademark functions could be speculative and overly broad in contrast with patent functions, which should be extra detailed about how an invention works and what it will likely be used for. Enabling telepathic communication would, although, match with Musk’s broader imaginative and prescient for Neuralink.
Musk has lengthy been within the idea of enabling telepathy with a brain-computer interface. In a prolonged illustrated explainer from 2017 during which he outlined the thought behind his then new firm Neuralink, Musk advocated for thought communication between individuals. “If I have been to speak an idea to you, you’ll basically interact in consensual telepathy. You wouldn’t have to verbalize except you wish to add somewhat aptitude to the dialog or one thing, however the dialog can be conceptual interplay on a degree that’s tough to conceive of proper now,” Musk advised blogger Tim City on the time.
Extra lately, Musk mentioned Neuralink’s telepathic ambitions on the Lex Fridman Podcast in August 2024. “Total new methods of interacting with the pc could be unlocked,” Fridman mentioned, referring to potential enhancements within the pace and accuracy of Neuralink’s machine. “And with different people,” Musk replied. “Supplied they’ve—they need—a Neuralink too.”
Musk has speculated that wholesome individuals will ultimately get mind implants, enabling people to obtain “symbiosis” with synthetic intelligence.