March 10, 2025 | Tech News
Elon Musk’s Neuralink has filed trademarks for ‘Telepathy’ and ‘Telekinesis’ with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), making a move to secure its position in the brain-computer interface (BCI) technology market. This trademark filing is being regarded as a significant step that signals more than just name protection, forecasting fundamental changes in human cognitive capabilities and physical interaction methods.
Telepathy: Controlling Digital Devices with Thoughts Alone
According to documents submitted to the USPTO, ‘Telepathy’ is defined as a “software and hardware communication control system through implantable brain-computer interface.” The technology’s core consists of the N1 electrode array and neural signal processing algorithm, where an implant with 1,024 electrodes integrated into polymer threads of 4-6μm diameter detects neural activity in the motor cortex at a 200Hz sampling rate.
Nolund Arvo, who received the first human implant surgery in January 2024, achieved a 75% win rate in chess games using only his thoughts after 8 weeks of surgery, while the second patient, Alex, showed improved productivity by generating 12 design elements per hour in 3D modeling work. These achievements suggest possibilities beyond simple device control to cognitive enhancement.
Telekinesis: A New Paradigm of Controlling Objects with Thoughts
‘Telekinesis’ is defined as “neural signal-based physical object control technology” and is currently being implemented through the R1 robot system. Equipped with an 8 degrees of freedom (DOF) drive mechanism and force feedback sensors, this system began testing in November 2024, with participants successfully manipulating objects with 0.5mm precision.
A notable feature is that it’s designed to enable three-dimensional spatial control using only motor imagery signals, representing an innovative technology that overcomes the two-dimensional limitations of existing BCI technology. In manufacturing site simulations, the telekinesis interface recorded assembly speeds 40% faster compared to traditional joystick controls.
Medical Innovation and Ethical Challenges Coexist
In virtual simulation studies with spinal cord injury patients, the application of the telekinesis system significantly improved the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) index from 45 to 78 points (out of 100). Additionally, in stroke rehabilitation, the addition of targeted electrical stimulation for neural plasticity induction proved to reduce motor function recovery time by 40%.
However, technical challenges and ethical dilemmas persist. 30% of first-phase implant patients showed electrode sensitivity decreased to 65% of initial levels after six months, primarily attributed to neural tissue scarring. In response, Neuralink is developing third-generation electrode threads with anti-inflammatory coating materials.
Furthermore, a recent report from Harvard’s Ethics Institute pointed out that 43 out of 127 types of neural data collectable by BCI devices qualify as ‘ultra-sensitive information’ under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Particularly, concerns have been raised about the potential commercial use of emotional state tracking data, and Neuralink plans to implement data anonymization encryption protocols.
Global Expansion and Regulatory Environment Response
According to trademark application documents, the Telepathy trademark was filed simultaneously under international classes 9 (electronic devices) and 42 (scientific and technological services), while the Telekinesis trademark was also filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), clearly indicating a global market entry strategy.
The regulatory environment is also rapidly evolving. The US FDA approved Neuralink’s Blindsight implant as an innovative device designation in September 2024, and Canadian health authorities approved the CAN-PRIME clinical trial in November 2024. In Europe, the amendment to Medical Device Regulation Article 5, effective January 2025, mandated the establishment of independent ethics review committees for BCI devices.
Expert Outlook: “Beyond Medical Use to Daily Innovation”
Brain-computer interface technology experts predict that Neuralink’s trademark applications will be more than just a commercial strategy, marking the beginning of a technological revolution that expands human biological limitations.
“While initially focusing on medical applications, particularly for neurological disorders and injury patients, there is high potential for expansion into the general consumer market in the long term,” analyzed Director Kim Min-seok of the Neural Engineering Institute.
However, according to a recent survey presented at the IEEE International Conference, public acceptance of non-medical BCI technology applications remains skeptical at 44%. Experts unanimously agree that for telepathy and telekinesis technologies to establish themselves as tools for human advancement, simultaneous pursuit of technical completeness and social consensus is essential.
The US Department of Labor projects the creation of 1.2 million BCI-related jobs by 2030, and the commercialization of telepathy and telekinesis technologies is expected to play a major role in realizing this projection.
With commercialization announced for 2026, Neuralink’s recent trademark applications are expected to serve as an important milestone bringing us one step closer to a future where humans and technology converge.