In October of last year, when I satirically wrote “Coming Soon To A Brain Near You” I anticipated that it would be a few years before Elon Musk’s dream-baby would actually be born.
In the past four days, there have been hundreds of articles regarding the first in-human Neuralink implant. The quadriplegic individual has not yet been named, but they will undoubtedly go down in history, if only a twitch of their little finger can be accomplished. Medical pioneers, like Dr. Christian Barnard who, in 1967 performed the first heart transplant, are also remembered.
Few people over 50 can still recall the first person who received (or performed) the groundbreaking surgery which saw a baboon heart transplanted into a human infant.
(Let us pause for a moment and give thanks to all the dogs, cats, rats and primates that have contributed to medical research and saved hundreds of thousands of human lives.)
Back to Neuralink’s breaking news. What are the possible unintended “benefits” (and WTF consequences) of human brains being one with the internet, libraries, artificial intelligence, each other, and the universe?
If a person (physically-disabled or not) has been equipped with direct access of thought-to-internet, should they be allowed to compete on game shows, chess matches or anything related to intellectual prowess?
Let’s hypothesize that some of the early Neuralink recipients, in addition to regaining use of arms, fingers and legs, mysteriously also develop phenomenal artistic, mathematical, or musical skills, such as audiographic or photographic memories?
What parent, learning of the benefits of neurotechnology, wouldn’t agree to letting their “normal” child receive the advantages of a quantum physics prodigy or a young Beethoven?
If a child of 12 suddenly decides they want to permanently change “genders” then who should stand in the way? What are the moral issues surrounding the 8-year-old, of mediocre intelligence and confined to a wheelchair, who wants to be the next Stephen Hawking? Should this person receive the Neuralink “miracle,” based upon their youthful hopes and dreams?
Let’s pretend that your 14-year-old has been granted membership in the MENSA society, but wants to become “normal” and no longer be treated like a freak of nature?
Could his/her/its brain be fitted with reverse-neural wiring to be assimilated back into their peer group?