Internet of Thoughts

Neuroscientists say an Internet of Thoughts network that connects neurons and synapses in the brain to cloud-computing networks could be a possibility within decades.

A collaboration between researchers from UC Berkeley and the US Institute for Molecular Manufacturing predicts the development of a Human Brain/Cloud Interface (B/CI) that allows real-time access to information available on the internet just by thinking of a topic.

Robert Freitas Jr, senior author of the study, published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, said such a system would rely on neural nanorobotics that could connect the neocortex of the human brain to a synthetic neocortex in the cloud.

"These devices would navigate the human vasculature, cross the blood-brain barrier, and precisely autoposition themselves among, or even within brain cells," said Freitas. "They would then wirelessly transmit encoded information to and from a cloud-based supercomputer network for real-time brain-state monitoring and data extraction."

Lead author Dr Nuno Martins said: “A human B/CI system mediated by neural nanorobotics could empower individuals with instantaneous access to all cumulative human knowledge available in the cloud, while significantly improving human learning capacities and intelligence.”

B/CI could also create a “global superbrain” that would connect networks of human brains and AI to enable connective thought.