Instead of robots eliminating job creation, humans can continue to work through mental commands. Brain-controlled interfaces (BCI’s) may allow humans in the near future to operate their physical environment with their mind.
Becoming part of technology will be an alternative tasks we will use to manage our lives and our day to day world. Motor imagery will give the user full conscious control of the physical world.
Self-described “experimental philosopher,” Jonathon Keats’ vision of the mind-controlled future is already in motion with his Mental Work Industries operation, a “brain-controlled factory,” and the first of its kind, welcoming anyone to partake in. Workers are said to control the machine by imagining movement in their hands.
Keats believes that instead of AI taking over technology to the point where it’s immersed in our lives, we can rather take part in it simultaneously in a partnership. Keats states, “With AI making headlines as a job-killer, I feel compelled to consider BCI as an alternative path forward.”
At Mental Works, visitors are allowed to control the manufacturing process up to three stages through mental commands by sporting an EEG headset. The EEG allows for small nodes attached to the scalp to measure electrical activity inside of the brain. Once the neural algorithm signals are detected by the lab’s computers, it will be converted to cognitive activity, which in turn will become physical activity inflicted through a device similar to slider ranks: slider ranks were a nineteenth-century device that transformed straight line movement into rotary motion.
Although Mental Work facility will not manufacture any mind-controlled products, they will gather the data from their visitors to provide to neuroscientist to advance BCI technology. Keats hopes that neuroscientists can get a better understanding of automation and how society can exploit it to its advantage
Neuroscientists of Standford have already successfully embedded BCI’s in paralyzed patients to restore limb movement via wearable technology. Neuralink, owned by Elon Musk-the mind behind Tesla motors and spacecraft manufacturer of SpaceX-is also heavily invested in BCI. Similar to Keats, Musk also hopes to eventually keep humans at the same rate as AI by merging and blurring the lines between the two. A statement from Neuralink echoed the future aspirations stating their goal is to: “eventually help humans merge with computer software in order to keep pace with artificial intelligence advancements.”
Learn more about BCI technology below. Also, feel free to tell us how you think this can affect the future and the consequences you think it may have on us in the future?
