Elon Musk thinks we need to add a layer of digital intelligence to our brains

Elon Musk thinks that humans are going to need to add a digital layer of intelligence to our brains to avoid becoming house cats to artificial intelligence. 

Musk believes that as AI continues to advance, humans will be left behind, and that even in the most banal situation, we'll be treated like pets by artificial intelligence, as he explained on stage at Vox Media's Code Conference in Southern California.

Enter something called "neural lace," a technology concept that Musk finds "quite important" that he thinks companies need to be working on.

Neural lace is essentially a wireless brain-computer system. 

"I don't love the idea of being a house cat, but what's the solution? I think one of the solutions that seems maybe the best is to add an AI layer," he said. "A third, digital layer that could work well and symbiotically" with the rest of your body.

Nanotechnologists have actually already been working on this concept.

Musk said that this wouldn't have to be something inserted by "chopping your skull off," but that the technology could be inserted through the jugular vein. 

"If we can create a high-bandwidth neural interface with your digital self, then you're no longer a house cat," he said.

Would Musk consider working on this technology himself?

"Somebody's gotta do it," he insisted. 

Watch Musk's explanation here, starting around 58:00: