Typing and speaking have always been our main ways of communicating with technology and with each other. But both have limits—typing is slow, and speaking isn’t always practical in public. As devices get faster and more capable, the bottleneck is no longer the computer but our ability to input information. This is where brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) come in.
BCIs are systems that let the brain talk directly to devices. Right now, in 2025, we’re seeing early examples of this technology: people moving robotic arms with their thoughts, controlling cursors, or even typing simple words without touching a keyboard. These are baby steps, but they point toward a future where “thinking” becomes the new way of interacting with machines.
Within the next hundred years, BCIs could shift from novelty to norm. Imagine being able to send a message to someone across the world simply by thinking it—no typing, no speaking, just brain-to-brain communication (with permission, of course). This wouldn’t just speed up communication; it would fundamentally change how we connect with others, blurring the line between thought and expression.
But with great potential comes serious risk. If a brain can transmit information, it can also be hacked. The idea of someone intercepting, stealing, or manipulating thoughts sounds like science fiction, but so did smartphones a century ago. By 2125—or even earlier—this could be a real challenge. Security, privacy, and ethical safeguards will need to evolve alongside the technology to keep people safe.
The trajectory is clear: as our devices get faster, our methods of interaction must too. Brain-to-device and brain-to-brain communication may one day replace keyboards and conversations entirely, transforming not just technology, but society itself.