AI pioneer Ray Kurzweil has joined a neurotechnology startup named Subsense, which is working on a non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) that uses inhaled nanoparticles. Based in Silicon Valley, Subsense aims to connect the human brain to computers through a nasal spray, offering an alternative to Elon Musk's Neuralink, which requires invasive surgery to implant electrodes directly into the brain. Subsense's technology involves inhaling charged nanoparticles that travel up the nasal passage to the brain via the olfactory nerve. Once inside the brain, these particles position themselves near neurons, where they can respond to magnetic fields from an external headset, enabling the reading and stimulation of neural activity without the need for surgery. Kurzweil, who has worked as a principal AI researcher at Google since 2012, has long believed that the convergence of AI, nanotechnology, and neuroscience could transform how humans interact with technology. He described Subsense's approach as a compelling way to integrate these fields, potentially moving brain-computer interfaces beyond the current limitations of surgery and into broader applications. Tetiana Aleksandrova, co-founder and CEO of Subsense, noted that while some of Kurzweil's ideas still belong to the future, the company's goal is to rigorously determine which parts of that future can be built today. Subsense has raised $27 million to develop its technology, and experimental tests have already been conducted on mice. The startup is still years away from human testing, but early applications are focused on neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and ALS. The latest developments come as global interest in BCIs continues to grow. Chinese authorities have recently launched a major initiative to develop this technology, and China became the first country to approve BCI devices for commercial use, with several products already available for medical purposes. Meanwhile, Neuralink has demonstrated various use cases for its brain chip, such as allowing users to control robotic limbs and computers using only their thoughts. More than 10,000 people have signed up for Neuralink's patient registry in hopes of participating in future trials.