With Elon Musk's Neuralink getting FDA approval to move forward with human trials, humanity could be on the path to a big transformation in which there will be two kinds of people in the future. Humans and superhumans. Another way of saying it is man and man-machine.
On a visit to Neuralink's website, I was welcomed with their mission statement which reads; Create a generalized brain interface to restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs today and unlock human potential tomorrow.
It's spot on right? Solve for the lowest hanging fruit today and tackle the whole tree tomorrow. I'm personally not strictly against it but I believe it will come at a very high cost.
One of the reason being that a human being is more than his/her physical body. Implanting a chip on the brain will mess up an intricate process that could lead to the human being having a hard time in controlling the body or maintaining their individuality.
'Unlock Human Potential'
The above heading can be interpreted differently. But it is a generally accepted view that the average human is using only a fraction of their potential. In our brains, most of the things we do is concentrated on a few areas.
Neuralink's mission statement raises intriguing possibilities for the future. The ability to restore autonomy to individuals with unmet medical needs is an admirable goal. And the concept of unlocking human potential through brain-machine interfaces is captivating to say the least.
Because it holds the promise of enhancing cognitive abilities, memory retention, and overall mental performance. But will the body be able to cope with the mental boost? How will the mind and body imbalance be corrected?
In technological terms, the body is like a hardware while the mind is like a software. What happens if the upgraded software keeps crashing the hardware?
Also, ethical and philosophical considerations can not be overlooked. Things like privacy and equality. Will this technology be accessible to everyone or will it be on an exclusivity for the few that can afford it? How will it influence personal identity and human interactions?
Of course, a generous trillionaire can come forward and make it free for everyone. But how about the second question dealing with privacy? If telepathy is introduce, wouldn't the creator of the chip have the ability to intercept and listen to the conversations? Or a malicious hacker hijack the chip and read everything that's in it.
The Stakes Are Getting Higher
The path towards brain-machine interfaces, as pursued by Neuralink, presents both extraordinary opportunities and profound risks.
Maybe I'm a bit paranoid. But it seems that humanity is gradually entering into adulthood in which we're not allowed to shrug and hope for the best every time we encounter a complex situation. Being indecisive is also a decision. Albeit a decision in which others will make for you without your best interest at heart.
For me, I will not be getting near this chip for the reason stated in the introduction and others. How about you?
Thanks for reading!! Share your thoughts below on the comments.