I Got an Email About a Brain Chip Called “Nubbin” — Is It Real?

On the morning of April 3, 2025, I opened my inbox to find something… strange. The subject line read:

“CONFIDENTIAL: Nubbin Launch Strategy | For Charlie Brooker”.

My heart skipped. Charlie Brooker? The creator of Black Mirror? Nubbin? What was this?

The email looked like an internal communication  supposedly from a company called Tckr Systems,discussing the upcoming release of a revolutionary new brain chip named “Nubbin.” It even included a link to a polished website, showcasing futuristic features like memory exploration, cinematic self-replays, and galactic travel (yes, literally traveling through your own imagined galaxies).

I clicked.

The website was sleek, complete with mock testimonials, a list of advanced neural capabilities, risk disclosures, and a convincing FAQ section. There was even a LinkedIn profile for Tckr Systems, detailing the company’s supposed breakthroughs in neural technology.

Soon after, I saw it on TikTok and YouTube  short, snappy videos showcasing Nubbin’s incredible features. It looked like the future was already here.

Or was it?

The Truth Behind Black Mirror’s “Nubbin”

As it turns out, “Nubbin” is not a real product. It’s part of an elaborate promotional campaign for Black Mirror Season 7, masterfully designed to blur the lines between fiction and reality.

This is classic Black Mirror  a show that not only critiques the dark side of technology but also toys with our perception of what’s real and what’s not.

______________

How the “Nubbin” Hoax Fooled the Internet

The creators of Black Mirror pulled out all the stops:

• Leaked Internal Email: Designed to look like a real tech leak, the email was sent to media outlets, sparking immediate speculation.

• Professional Website: A fully-functional site for Nubbin detailed the product’s features, risks, and future rollout plan.

• Social Media Buzz: With viral videos on TikTok and mock interviews, the campaign felt authentic.

• Fake Corporate Presence: A LinkedIn page for Tckr Systems added another layer of realism.

It worked. Thousands believed Nubbin was real. Tech enthusiasts, sci-fi fans, and even some journalists fell for it.

So, What Is Nubbin Really About?

At its core, Nubbin is a fictional brain chip part of the storytelling within Black Mirror Season 7. It’s a clever tool for exploring themes like memory manipulation, virtual identity, and the dangers of hyper-connectivity.

It’s not the first time the show has pulled a stunt like this. Remember the Tuckersoft website during the release of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch? That too was part of a wider narrative experience, blurring fiction with reality.

But Could a “Nubbin” Ever Exist?

While Nubbin is fictional, the concept behind it Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)  is very real. Companies like Neuralink and Synchron are pioneering the development of BCI technology, aiming to:

• Restore movement and speech in people with disabilities

• Improve cognitive function

• Explore mind-to-machine communication

However, the sci-fi-level capabilities seen in Black Mirror  like replaying memories in cinematic form or teleporting mentally into alternate universes are still far beyond what modern science can achieve.

What We Can Learn From Nubbin’s Hoax

In today’s digital world, it’s getting harder to separate fact from fiction especially when the lines are intentionally blurred. The Nubbin campaign reminds us to:

• Stay curious, but skeptical.

• Fact-check before sharing.

• Appreciate the power of storytelling especially when it’s used to challenge our understanding of reality.

“Nubbin” isn’t real, but the questions it raises are.

How far is too far when it comes to technology? Who controls our memories? And how easily can we be manipulated in the age of digital illusion?