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Imagine sending a message, switching off lights, or even playing a video game, just by thinking. It sounds like science fiction, but thanks to breakthroughs in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, this future may be closer than we think.

At the center of this revolution is Neuralink, a company founded by Elon Musk with a vision to merge human brains with machines. 

This article explores what Neuralink is, how it works, the potential of mind-controlled devices, ethical concerns, and where the technology stands today.

What is Neuralink?

Neuralink is a technology company that Elon Musk started in 2016. You might know Elon Musk as the person who created Tesla cars and SpaceX rockets. Now, he wants to connect human brains directly to computers.

The main goal of Neuralink is to help people with disabilities control things around them using just their thoughts. But they also dream of making all humans smarter by connecting our brains to artificial intelligence.

The company has created a small device called the N1 Link. This device is about the size of a coin and gets placed inside a person's brain through surgery. It's like a tiny computer that can read your thoughts and turn them into commands for other devices.

Unlike other BCI technologies, Neuralink’s approach is fully invasive, offering ultra-high signal clarity through 1,024 electrodes on 64 flexible threads thinner than a human hair. These threads are delicately implanted using a robotic surgical system for precise and safe placement.

How Does Neuralink Work?

The Neuralink device works like a translator between your brain and computers. 

Here's how it happens:

Your brain sends electrical signals when you think about moving or doing something. The Neuralink chip has over 1,000 tiny sensors that can detect these brain signals. These sensors are attached to threads that are thinner than human hair and are carefully placed in your brain during surgery.

Once the chip reads your brain signals, it sends this information wirelessly to a computer or smartphone using Bluetooth technology. The computer then understands what you want to do and makes it happen.

Current Uses of Brain-Machine Interfaces

In 2021, scientists showed a monkey named Pager playing the video game Pong using only his thoughts. The monkey had a Neuralink device in his brain, and he could move the game paddle just by thinking about it.

For humans, a man named Noland Arbaugh became one of the first people to test Neuralink. Noland cannot move his arms or legs due to an injury, but with the brain chip, he can control a computer mouse, play games, and even use an iPhone just by thinking.

Other companies are working on similar brain technology too. Some devices help people who cannot speak to type messages on computers. Others help people with brain diseases like Parkinson's feel better.

What Could Mind-Controlled Devices Do in the Future?

The possibilities for brain-controlled technology are exciting. Picture controlling a smart home system, writing emails, or even playing hyper-immersive VR games using only your thoughts. That’s the direction we're heading in.

Elon Musk envisions a future where human-AI symbiosis becomes reality. This could mean accessing information from the internet in real-time with just a thought, or boosting memory and mental performance through direct brain–machine interaction.

Safety and Concerns About Brain Technology

While brain-controlled devices sound amazing, they also come with serious risks and questions that we need to think about carefully.

Surgery on the brain is always dangerous. Putting a device inside someone's head could cause infections, bleeding, or other medical problems. We still don't know what might happen to people who use these devices for many years.

Brain information is extremely private. Your thoughts and feelings are the most personal things about you. If companies can read your brain signals, who gets to see that information? What if hackers try to steal your thoughts or control your brain device?

Some people worry about becoming too dependent on brain technology. What happens if your brain chip stops working or breaks? Would you still be able to function normally?

Neuralink began its first human trials in 2024 after FDA approval. As of mid-2025, three patients have received implants, with plans for more underway.

The question isn't just whether we can connect our minds to machines, but whether we should. What do you think about the idea of controlling devices with your thoughts?