Brain-Computer Interfaces, AI, and Androids: are we keeping the upper hand?

The way the user will communicate with computers in the future is in for a big change. After keyboards, mice, touchscreens, gesture and voice recognition, the avant-garde computer research relies on so-called brain-computer interfaces. The novel interfaces should allow the user to control more complex applications directly with the power of thought. The background of the development is the invention of ever more powerful artificial intelligence (AI).

What is a brain-computer interface?

A brain-computer interface (BCI) is an interface between the brain and the computer. The power of thought is translated into digital output commands. There are two ways of measuring brain waves: noninvasive and invasive. In the first method, brain activity on the scalp is measured by electrodes. A disadvantage lies in the inaccuracy of the measurement results. The second, the invasive method, is measured with a small electrode directly in the brain. This method allows far more accurate measurements of our brain activity. Elon Musk does not hesitate to favor a minimally invasive procedure. The company Neuralink, which he co-founded in 2016, intends to introduce a revolutionary product soon.

Cyborg or Android-Which concept will win the future?

A cyborg is a person who uses technological enhancements to increase their capabilities. Already today, there are prostheses or hearing and visual aids. These prove the first steps in this direction. But it does not have to be about providing help to physically handicapped people. Technological development will also be used to improve an unimpaired person. An exoskeleton enables a paraplegic to walk again or gives a ‘healthy’ superhuman strength and endurance. Using an implant that makes the brain communicate with a computer also turns a person into a cyborg. By contrast, an android is a human-like machine, such as the robot known from the movie Terminator. The character Data from...