The United Nations has issued a warning about the potential risks associated with neurotechnology advancements, stating that brain implants and scans could potentially allow artificial intelligence (AI) to invade individuals’ private thoughts. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) emphasized the need for regulation as AI continues to enhance the neurotech field, citing the technology’s far-reaching and potentially harmful capabilities.
Mariagrazia Squicciarini, an economist from UNESCO, described the impact of AI on neurotech as similar to putting neurotech on steroids. The exponential growth of AI has led UN officials to sound the alarm, with UNESCO’s assistant director general for social and human sciences, Gabriela Ramos, warning that we are headed towards a world where algorithms can decipher people’s mental processes and manipulate the underlying mechanisms of their intentions, emotions, and decisions.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed these concerns, highlighting the rapid progress of this technology. While neurotechnology has the potential to greatly improve people’s lives, UN officials also stressed the need to consider its potential drawbacks. UNESCO shared the story of Hannah Galvin, a woman with epilepsy who had a neurotech device implanted in her brain to detect seizures. However, the device constantly triggered false alarms, causing Galvin distress and eventually leading to the removal of the device.
Despite these challenges, neurotechnology still holds promise for various medical applications such as helping the blind see or assisting the paralyzed to walk. Squicciarini acknowledged that while the technology may be fantastic for some individuals, there are concerns about accessing and manipulating people’s brains, as well as infringing on their rights to privacy, freedom of thought, and human dignity.
In June, UNESCO’s director-general Audrey Azoulay proposed a common ethical framework at the international level to address these issues. The aim is to strike a balance between the potential benefits of neurotechnology and the need to protect individuals’ privacy and fundamental rights.
It is crucial to critically examine the risks associated with the rapid advancement of neurotechnology to ensure that appropriate regulations are in place. By adopting an ethical framework, society can harness the potential benefits while mitigating the potential threats to mental privacy and personal autonomy.
