Has Super Intelligence Been Created?

It has been reported by a section of the electronic media that the US has recently succeeded in planting, on a large scale, brain-computer interfaces (BCI) into the human brains. In other words, the connection between the human brain and external devices been digitally bridged. The BCI is a device implantable in the human brain and its designers expect it to relay high quality signals due to its nature and embedded position inside the cranium. This device interfaces with the human brain, reads and understands its signals, and converts the signals, or expressions of intent, into digital actions to be performed by external devices or machines that may be connected, even remotely. This constitutes basically a redesigning of the human mind, developing a super intelligent human being that can be made to work remotely at its controller’s will and command.

Its designers claim that these high-performance interfacing devices will prove a boon to disabled and physically challenged individuals, will help people with disabilities regain certain functions, e.g., controlling prosthetic limbs or communicating through thought, treat neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s or epilepsy through deep brain stimulation. It will help the communication and medical rehabilitation industries too, as is claimed by its designers. That leads us to the conclusion that in any section of the civilized society we may have many humans with a BCI embedded in their neural cavity. Very limited information on such research and development on creating ‘super intelligence’ is allowed to come into the public domain. While scientific research and academic papers, open databases, press releases are available on websites, the areas relating to defence, especially in government funded projects, are kept under deep covers. We know that the first BCI implanted on a human subject was in 2004 in the US which has remained a hub for all work in this area.

Let us envisage a society where we have people with embedded BCIs, a reality son to come. What will be the fallout if an agency hacks another’s BCI. What about cloning a person, embedding a BCI, and then manipulating him to a place of strategic importance in a country on unfriendly terms with yours? BCIs operate by interpreting neural signals and sending commands to external devices, which means they transmit and receive data. Like any device that communicates wirelessly or over a network, BCIs are potentially vulnerable to hacking. If the communication between the brain and the interface is compromised, there’s a risk of data interception or manipulation. BCIs may store sensitive neurological data about a person’s brain activity, cognitive functions, and even emotional states. If hacked, this data could be used for invasive profiling or manipulation, with or without direct control over the person’s actions. As BCIs become more advanced, the potential for deeper interaction with brain regions responsible for cognition, emotion, and decision-making increases. If these BCIs can read and write brain signals, the risk of hacking to influence behaviour or thoughts becomes more realistic. And what shall be the risks of the BCI being laced with explosives for our self-annihilation

If BCIs are integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) systems for predictive behaviour or cognitive enhancement, there is a possibility that hackers could exploit AI algorithms to manipulate the interface's behaviour, potentially influencing decisions or thoughts at a subconscious level. The current risk of hacking BCIs to control another person’s brain will grow as BCIs become more integrated into human cognition and behaviour. Will we be passing on our thought control to others, thereby placing ourselves and our national resources at their control? Will the concept of independence be redefined