Here's a question for you...
If I put a chip in my head that can read my thoughts, and I use those thoughts to type and send an email...
... and you put a chip in your brain that can receive that email, and "read it" so that you understand the content...
... then isn't that, functionally speaking and by definition, the same as telepathy?
I was a big sci-fi fan growing up (more Star Trek than Star Wars, but I liked it all) and as a young adult, I used to tell anyone who'd listen that I thought the next phase of human evolution would involve integration with technology.
That, one day, we could be effectively telepathic thanks to computers in our heads that talked to each other. That we could use technology to upgrade our brain and give us superpowers much faster than evolution might ever allow.
It sounded insane back then.
Today? It still sounds insane... but much less so.
Because brain-computer-interface technologies, like Elon Musk's Neuralink, are right around the corner, for better or for worse.
I'm very excited about some of the challenges this technology promises to overcome, like some of the incredible examples described in this insightful The Washington Post article.
But clearly, there are also some very clear issues we, as a society, will need to address.
For instance, is it safe to embed a foreign object inside your brain? What happens if the chip somehow degrades?
Is it secure? Will it be possible for your brain to be "hacked" or infected with ransomware?
What are the privacy implications? Would it be possible to intentionally intercept a thought-message not intended for you, and if so, what should be the consequences of such actions?
Is this technology ethical? If having this chip implanted in your head gives you a substantial advantage over those who can't or won't get one implanted into theirs, is that equitable?
There are so many questions, but there are two you likely need to start thinking about.
First, if you were given the opportunity, and the technology was proven (relatively) safe, and you could afford the procedure, would you implant a brain-computer-interface in your head?
And second, if the answer is no, how do you plan to compete with those who do?
P.S. This image was created by Bria.AI after I asked it to generate an image of a computer chip inside of a human brain. Because, hey, if I'm going to write a post about implanting computer chips in your brain, I might as well throw in some A.I. while I'm at it, right?
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