What’s been happening in the wild world of connecting brains to computers since that 2005 Google patent? Well there’s still work going on in developing tech helping people do things just by thinking about it. The big buzzword is Brain-Computer Interfaces, or BCIs.
So, while Google’s 2005 “artificial telepathy” idea was for a hidden mobile phone system, the focus today is much broader and, in some cases, already changing lives, primarily in the medical field.
Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, is making waves with the implantable device called the “Link.” This is a small coin-sized gadget with super-thin threads that a special surgical robot carefully places in the brain. There’s already human trials. People with paralysis have had the Link implanted and are learning to control computers, play games, and even communicate just by thinking. It’s like giving them a direct link to the digital world when their physical link is broken. Neuralink’s big dream is to eventually restore things like movement and vision, and maybe one day, even enhance human capabilities.
Then there’s Synchron, who have taken a slightly different, less invasive approach with implants. Instead of putting electrodes directly into the brain tissue like Neuralink, their device, the “Switch,” is threaded up through blood vessels to sit on the surface of the brain. This means a less complex procedure. They’re also in human trials, helping people with severe paralysis regain independence by controlling devices like tablets and computers with their thoughts. It’s a significant step forward for making implantable BCIs more accessible.
While the 2005 patent is a historical footnote now, Google is still very much involved in BCI-related research, though perhaps less focused on direct implants for “telepathy.” Their work often ties into their AI and machine learning expertise. They’ve been exploring ways to use non-invasive methods like EEG (those caps with electrodes you see in sci-fi movies!) combined with their powerful Gemini AI to interpret brain signals. This could lead to more user-friendly and accessible BCI tools for research and potentially assistive technologies without needing surgery. Their project ‘Vessel’ is a good example of this, aiming to simplify BCI use for everyone from researchers to students.
Many universities and smaller companies are also pushing the boundaries. Some are working on even more refined invasive implants (like Precision Neuroscience’s surface arrays), while others are making strides in non-invasive methods with BCIs that are easier to use, more accurate, and don’t require surgery at all. Developments in AI are key here, helping to make sense of the weaker signals picked up from outside the skull. Even organizations like DARPA (the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) have shown interest in the potential for wireless brain-to-brain communication, though that’s still very much cutting-edge research.
The Big Picture: So, while we’re not quite at the point of implanting everyone with “artificial telepathy” devices for casual chats, the technology that enables connecting brains to computers is accelerating. This is largely driven by the incredible potential to help people with severe disabilities and powered by advancements in AI, smaller hardware, and better wireless tech. Of course, with such powerful technology comes big questions about privacy and safety, which researchers and ethicists are working through as we go.