Scary. Yes, BCI has huge potential for theraputic applications. That said, who knows the extent to which non-theraputic use for "enhancement", "intellect highs", or recreation may evoke a Pandora's box of human addiction and psychosis.
A chilling picture of humanity's future. I use a smartphone, editing software (PWA), Photoshop, Google Assistant, GPS -- all of these as a matter of course. I chose NOT to have a smart home because that is way too intrusive. And yet, is it any less so than the cumulative data all my other digital cooperation has provided? A good friend is about to get a pacemaker that can be read via the bluetooth on her phone. Would I not want that for her if it means she can stick around longer? My apocalyptic bent finds peace in a belief that God remains on his throne.
The pacemaker is a great example of a piece of technology that is already part of our bodies and assisting us in terms of longevity. Another example I can give, that is a bit more sci-fi but already real, is the case of Ann Johnson, a woman who is paralyzed and lost the ability to speak. With the help of an experimental brain user interface, which involved a brain implant paired with AI, she is able to communicate verbally again through a digital avatar. Arguably, these are good examples of a merge and they show that 'the merge' is already happening. It's not all doom and gloom, but I do sympathise with your sentiment: what we reject and embrace will be different for people and time will tell what options we'll have to choose from.
Scary. Yes, BCI has huge potential for theraputic applications. That said, who knows the extent to which non-theraputic use for "enhancement", "intellect highs", or recreation may evoke a Pandora's box of human addiction and psychosis.
This is pretty much my take in a nutshell.
A chilling picture of humanity's future. I use a smartphone, editing software (PWA), Photoshop, Google Assistant, GPS -- all of these as a matter of course. I chose NOT to have a smart home because that is way too intrusive. And yet, is it any less so than the cumulative data all my other digital cooperation has provided? A good friend is about to get a pacemaker that can be read via the bluetooth on her phone. Would I not want that for her if it means she can stick around longer? My apocalyptic bent finds peace in a belief that God remains on his throne.
The pacemaker is a great example of a piece of technology that is already part of our bodies and assisting us in terms of longevity. Another example I can give, that is a bit more sci-fi but already real, is the case of Ann Johnson, a woman who is paralyzed and lost the ability to speak. With the help of an experimental brain user interface, which involved a brain implant paired with AI, she is able to communicate verbally again through a digital avatar. Arguably, these are good examples of a merge and they show that 'the merge' is already happening. It's not all doom and gloom, but I do sympathise with your sentiment: what we reject and embrace will be different for people and time will tell what options we'll have to choose from.
Link to Ann Johnson case article: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/woman-with-paralysis-can-speak-by-thinking-with-a-brain-implant-and-ai-180982797/
Such a tricky path forward.