The United States military has been researching the implications of inserting implants into soldiers. Researchers focused on “ocular enhancements to imaging, sight, and situational awareness; restoration and programmed muscular control through optogenetic bodysuit; auditory enhancement for communication and protection; and direct neural enhancement of the human brain for two-way data transfer.” However, the study found that public perception of the mass adoption of cybernetics was an issue especially because of movies such as those in The Terminator franchise.
A troubling aspect of this research is, for some enhancements to be made, a soldier most-likely has to be injured for them to consider getting the surgery done. Researchers stated, “neural implants for brain-computer interfacing would allow for seamless interaction between individuals and secondary asserts (machines). This control could be exerted upon drones, weapon systems, and other remote systems operated by an enhanced individual.”
As Doug Hill explains in his article, “The eccentric genius whose time may have finally come (again)”, Norbert Weiner is the inventor of cybernetics and his fear of the future was because of two things: Humans can’t resist selfishly misusing the powers machines give to us and the inability to control machines due to their automation and intelligence. He refused to work with the military and corporations for ethical reasons which according to Hill, may have hindered his progress in technological advancements.
The military is looking to cybernetically enhance soldiers to control machines, “but also transmission to operator (machine to brain) and human to human (command and control dynamics) to enhance situational awareness as drone, computational analytical, and human information is relayed to the operator.” DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, has already tested a prosthetic memory chip and even Elon Musk is working on a plan to “achieve a symbiosis with artificial intelligence” and merge humans with AI so they can be able to keep up with it. Musk plans to conduct human trials soon which are intended to treat brain injuries.
Wiener’s reasons for worry may have been far-fetched during his time, however, as DARPA, the Pentagon, and Elon Musk continue their research into the cybernetic enhancements of humans, it is more than ever a cause for concern. The ethical and legal ramifications of this research and implementation will have to be reconsidered as more money and studies are conducted in this area.
