Brain Hacking

Starting Point. Discuss the questions below. Do you agree or disagree with them? Why?

• Technology should be focused on the quality of life of people with disabilities.
• There is no equitable access to new technologies and only the privileged few make use of them.
• There are no signs of an imminent breakthrough that would change the way we live.
• Scientists never contemplate the ethical implications of the research they work on.
• Melding our minds with machines sounds like an idea taken straight from a Hollywood movie.

Focus on Comprehension. Answer the questions below about the video.

Focus on Listening. Watch the video. Read the transcript below if necessary.

Focus on Speaking. Look at the charts below from the Pew Research Center.

Where would you place yourself on the charts? Are you surprised by the findings of the study?

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2016/07/26/public-opinion-on-the-future-use-of-brain-implants/

• What do you think the potential implications of melding our minds with machines might be?
• Will this technology give birth to a superhuman?
• What benefits could humanity reap if superhuman intelligence was created?
• Is it possible to ensure equitable access to this technology across society?
• Are there limits that brain-computer interface scientists shouldn’t surpass?
• Do you think this is the only way we can keep pace with artificial intelligence?
• How you like to improve your mental abilities within a few days? Would you like to do that?
• Would you like to connect to your computer with your mind? Why or why not?
• Are you willing to undergo brain surgery to become integrated with computers?
• Do you feel technology is always used for the right reasons? Can you think of any examples where technology was not used in the way it was intended?
• Merging our minds with machines could represent the most significant upgrade to intelligence since human beings evolved. But are we ready? What problems could there be?
• Ads, cookies and pop ups are continuously being planted into our computers by numerous corporations. How can we be sure that our brain “inbox” will be completely ad free and that this data transfer includes spam and virus protection?
• Anxiety, nervousness and stress-related conditions are already a health issue nowadays. How will we cope with the astonishing amount of information without a nervous breakdown?