Elon Musk’s brain implant company Neuralink has applied to the US Patent and Trademark Office to exclusively own the names Telepathy, Telekinesis, and Blindsight for its future products. Following this news, speculations have increased about the serious developments the company has made that excite science fiction fans.

Elon Musk’s company Neuralink, which develops brain-computer interface technologies, has taken a significant step towards turning futuristic technologies into reality. The company has filed trademark applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office for concepts like “Telepathy” and “Telekinesis.” These trademark applications indicate that Neuralink aims to have an impact not only in medical applications but also in areas such as human communication and device control.

WHAT ARE TELEPATHY AND TELEKINESIS?

Telepathy refers to individuals communicating through thought, while telekinesis describes the ability to move objects without physical contact. Neuralink’s attempt to trademark these concepts suggests that the company aims to enable such abilities through brain implants. The product named “Telepathy” is defined as a brain-computer interface that allows paralyzed individuals to control computers solely through the power of thought. On the other hand, the name “Telekinesis” is speculated to refer to a product that controls robotic limbs and other devices through thought. Blindsight is a brain implant developed by Neuralink for individuals with visual impairments. The product is defined as a device that “restores visual perception” in the trademark application.

MEDICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL POTENTIAL

Neuralink’s current technology can collect nerve signals through brain implants and convert these signals into movements on a computer screen. The company plans to further develop this technology to implement innovative applications such as telepathic communication between individuals and the control of robotic devices through the power of thought. Such technologies could be a significant source of hope, especially for individuals battling neurological diseases.

MUSK’S TELEPATHY VISION

Elon Musk emphasized his desire to enable inter-human thought communication in a lengthy official statement where he revealed the idea behind Neuralink in 2017. During a podcast in August 2024, Musk made an additional comment to the host saying, “And with other people! If they also have Neuralink and want it…” indicating that he believes in the future of healthy individuals being able to establish a symbiotic relationship with artificial intelligence through brain implants.

MAY BE TOO EARLY TO GET EXCITED

Trademark attorney Josh Gerben, commenting on the matter, said that trademark applications should not be confused with patent applications. Gerben pointed out that claims about how an invention works and what it can do can be overly broad in trademark applications, reminding that large companies can secure name rights decades before getting a product operational. In short, these applications do not necessarily indicate progress in areas like telepathy and telekinesis for Neuralink.

NEURALINK EXPERIMENTS CONTINUE

Neuralink has been conducting trials on human subjects since receiving approval from the US Food and Drug Administration last year to begin clinical studies of brain implants. This groundbreaking technology holds promise, especially for paralyzed individuals. Individuals with Neuralink implants can control computers solely through the power of thought. For example, one subject can move a computer mouse with their thoughts while another can play chess online.