The stuff of science fiction could be closer to becoming reality than we expected:
Human brains could merge with technology sooner than we think https://t.co/aHSHXYth0i pic.twitter.com/UdgkgaiZSu
— New York Post (@nypost) April 16, 2019
A new study suggests that human brains could be merged with technology significantly sooner than many expect, perhaps “within decades.”
Known as the “Human Brain/Cloud Interface” (B/CI), researchers at the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing in California have suggested that nanorobots could be implanted into the human body and connect to a network in real-time.
Futurists and sci-fi fans have been reading for years about nanobots working all kinds of miracles in the human body, but those are just, you know, stories. That such things may leave the realm of fiction during the lifetimes of people alive today wasn’t considered a real possibility just a few years ago.
Get ready to meet your new internal connection to the cloud:
“These devices would navigate the human vasculature, cross the blood-brain barrier and precisely autoposition themselves among, or even within brain cells,” the study’s senior author, Robert Freitas, Jr., said in a statement. “They would then wirelessly transmit encoded information to and from a cloud-based supercomputer network for real-time brain-state monitoring and data extraction.”
The lead author of the study — Dr. Nuno Martins — had some thoughts on the future of this human/tech merger that I’m not so sure I’m thrilled with:
Martins added that thanks to the advancement of neuralnanorobotics, there could be a “superbrain” created that could revolutionize democracy, enhance empathy and ultimately unite culturally diverse groups into a truly global society.
That almost sounds like the creation of an actual hive mind, more frighteningly real than the kind the Democrats and progressives have now. I wouldn’t mind if we all got along better, but I’m always skeptical of dreams of a global world order.
Famous futurist Ray Kurzweil is mentioned in this article, and I’ve read some of his stuff in recent years. He is quite optimistic about the future of artificial intelligence and nanotechnology.
The upside does seem incredible, but a few assurances that we aren’t headed the way of the Borg would be nice.
I am a product of Jetsons-era cartoon-watching Americans and would much rather have a hover car to cruise around in than a search engine in my head.
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