The H.A.C.K.E.R. Project

The following article contains the opinion of the author and does not reflect the views of The H.A.C.K.E.R. Project as a whole.

If you frequently tune in to news regarding upcoming technologies, you have likely heard of the Neuralink Chip, a small device produced by the technology company Neuralink that is implanted within your head that is supposed to allow you to control compatible technology with just a thought. This sounds like a wonderful technology pulled straight from a futuristic novel. Being able to control technology without physical movement could remove many barriers to technology that exist for someone who has a physical disability. However, for myself, this is not a technology I would want to use nor would feel safe using.

Medical Concern

One of my main concerns- and a concern that I am sure many others share- with having a piece of technology implanted into my brain is that there are many ways in which this procedure could go wrong. I most certainly do not want anyone or anything operating on my brain unless it is absolutely necessary. After all, the brain is an extremely critical organ, and I would much rather keep it as healthy and natural as possible so that I can continue to live my life as I currently do. Beyond the operation itself that would insert this implant, I have concern over whether the implant itself will be safe to have in my head. If, somehow, the implant was to become dislodged, I can foresee it causing quite a bit of harm or possibly kill me.

Not only that, but I fear that this type of technology could promote a sedentary lifestyle. A sedentary lifestyle is one where someone does not perform much physical activity during their day-to-day activities. For example, if I could simply think the lights on in my room in the morning, think the tea kettle on to start brewing a morning cup of green tea, and think my thermostat to adjust the temperature down since it is warm in the house, then there is no reason for me to get out of bed until the last possible minute. Turning these basic and routine activities into mere thoughts- while it can free up time for other activities- could also free up time to not be active. By removing these small activities, it can become tempting to find other shortcuts to have to do less during the day overall, which could lead to less physical activity during the day, which could result in other health issues.

Cybersecurity Concern

Beyond these medical concerns, one huge cybersecurity concern comes to mind when discussing this sort of technology. What if the implant is hacked? Could an attacker simply hijack any of the devices that can communicate with your implant, making it frustrating or impossible to get anything done with the device? Could a hacker simply disable the device, effectively forcing you to need another surgery to get it fixed? Or what if, somehow, a hacker is able to use the device to influence you as a person?

As a note, the following hinges on the future of this sort of technology and poses questions that are likely far-fetched, so take the next two paragraphs with a grain of salt.

While, at its current stage, the implant likely does not have the capability to directly change your thoughts and actions, there will likely come a time where innovation pushes this technology to be able to “rewire your brain”. This sort of technology could have the potential to help reduce addiction to and prevent cravings for harmful substances. While this would be a great benefit, what if a hacker could redirect this capability? What if a hacker could hack your implant and cause you to become addicted to something, or lose interest in something that, while not an addiction, was a hobby you enjoyed?

Alternatively, it is possible that this technology may develop to, essentially, become a computer and/or mobile phone in itself. This, of course, would invite hackers to try and break into your system. What would happen, though, if a hacker hacked into the computer that is implanted into your brain? Could they harm you? Could they somehow use the implant to control your actions? There are many ways that this sort of technology could pose a cybersecurity- and even personal security- risk, which is yet another reason why I personally do not have interest in one of these implants.

User Experience Concern

There is a lot of humorous talk surrounding this technology on social media as well. For example, some joke that these implants will allow companies to display their advertisements within your field of vision. As many of you are likely aware, advertisements are nearly everywhere and are becoming increasingly invasive (I personally have had to deal with “advertisements” during YouTube videos that were 30+ minutes long, which is absolutely ridiculous). So, what if it was possible to send mental advertisements to people who have this implant? That would, in my opinion, definitely be an invasion of personal peace at the least, if not privacy. Imagine trying to do something that requires utmost concentration and focus when the catchy jingle of a familiar ad gets stuck in your head. Or, taking it to the extreme, imagine having an advertisement suddenly appear in your field of vision when driving. While these are all, at the current time, jokes, I would not be surprised if certain corporations began pushing for these sorts of advertisements.

Wearable Technology

What then do I propose as a new direction for technology instead of implants? Further development of wearable technology. Smart watches have already taken great strides forward in their capabilities, so why not take these pieces of technology even further? Apple’s Vision Pro headset is also providing many new and neat opportunities for users (although that likely has its own health concerns, especially when it comes to vision and eyes). I think it would be better to develop this type of technology because it can provide many of the same benefits as an implant while having one crucial feature that an implant lacks: the ability to take them off. You can always take off your smartwatch or remove your headset or smart glasses. It is extremely difficult to “take off” a piece of technology implanted into your brain.

Final Thoughts

Of course, the above is simply my own personal opinion. You are more than welcome to disagree with me! Plus, there are ways in which an implant could revolutionize life; as mentioned before, if someone has a physical disability that limits their movements, being able to control devices with a thought would remove many barriers that prevent access to technology. For now, though, we will have to wait and see how this technology develops and changes as time goes on.