When brain-computer interfaces become a reality, how far are we from cyberpunk?

Figure 1: Header image, source: Yunnan University Student Network

In May this year, an American brain-computer interface company announced the launch of human clinical trials. Brain-computer interface technology has taken an important step towards the future. Perhaps one day we will really be able to enter the world of cyberpunk.

1. How does brain-computer interface achieve human-computer interconnection?

Through a data cable, the human brain's consciousness can be uploaded to the Internet, and brain waves can be used to directly control technological products. This is the world depicted for us in science fiction works such as "Ghost in the Shell", "Cyberpunk 2077" and "The Matrix".

Today, with the continuous development of brain-computer interface technology, we may be on the verge of realizing these science fiction plots.

Figure 2: The pioneering work of cyberpunk, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, source: Game Time Forum

Depending on the different ways in which brain-computer interfaces work, they can be divided into "invasive" brain-computer interfaces and "non-invasive" brain-computer interfaces. The main difference between the two is whether physical modification of the user is required.

In addition, the broad definition of brain-computer interfaces also includes technological prosthetics in works such as "Battle Angel Alita" and "Cyberpunk 2077".

Figure 3: The non-invasive interface in the movie Avatar, which achieves consciousness transfer through a hibernation capsule

Figure 4: Invasive brain-computer interface in the movie "The Matrix", where the wires are directly inserted into the human body

Brain-computer interface is not a new technology. Its development history can be traced back to World War II. Currently, brain-computer interface technology is mainly used in the medical field.

The form of brain-computer interface widely known today comes from the concept proposed by Professor Jacques Davil in 1973: "It can allow the brain to be directly connected to an external machine. It allows computer electrical signals to be converted into brain electrical signals, thus realizing information exchange between the brain and the machine, and even forging information to deceive the human brain."

In short, brain-computer interface technology obtains information from the brain by acquiring signals from the cortical layers of different brain regions, and further determines what you want to do.

As a bridge between the brain and the computer, the brain-computer interface is essentially an input and output device. The first is output, which is to record the information sent by neurons, and the second is input, which is how to input information, that is, how to stimulate neurons.

Figure 5: The front page of Jacques Davil’s brain-computer interface paper, source: Annual Reviews

If we compare the brain to a stadium, then brain activity is equivalent to the sports events in the stadium.

You can follow sports events through the broadcast outside the stadium, or judge the situation of the game through the cheers of the audience inside the stadium, but you can never get the details of the game.

Imported non-invasive brain-computer interface technology is the equivalent of standing outside a sports stadium as a lookout, and can only monitor neural activity from the outside, meaning that many details are blurred.

Using an invasive brain-computer interface is like walking directly into a stadium and watching the game in the audience, where you can directly access information from your nerves.

As for how much information you get, it depends on how deep you go into the stadium. The scenery you can see from the corridor and from the first row of the audience will naturally be different.

2. Current Brain-Computer Interfaces

Although the giants of brain-computer interface companies have conducted human clinical trials of brain-computer interfaces, this does not mean that this technology will make a huge leap in a short period of time. At present, brain-computer interfaces cannot connect everything as imaginatively as in science fiction works. They can only control electronic devices and help diagnose and recover from physical diseases.

Figure 6: Hawking and his wheelchair, source: Tencent

Figure 7: In the 2014 Brazil World Cup, brain-computer interface and exoskeleton technology helped a disabled teenager kick off the game. Source: Live video of the opening ceremony

Figure 8: In 2020, Zhejiang University completed the first clinical translational research of implantable brain-computer interface in China. Source: Zhejiang University News Office

3. The Future of Brain-Computer Interfaces

According to estimates by McKinsey Consulting, the potential market size of global brain-computer interface medical applications is expected to exceed US$40 billion in the next decade, which shows the economic potential of this technology.

However, while brain-computer interfaces bring opportunities to society, they also bring anxiety. Neuromancer, published in 1984, tells the story of a hacker who uses a brain-computer interface to gain great power in the Internet world. The story depicts people's infinite yearning for future technological life, as well as their infinite concerns about the potential threats posed by technology.

In any case, brain-computer interface is still the trend of the future, and it may become another far-reaching technological revolution since the invention of computers. As for what kind of future brain-computer interface will lead to, let us wait and see.

Figure 9: Concept map of Neuromancer, source: Steam

References

[1] Artificial ion neurons can be used for future electronic memory[N]. Zhang Mengran. Science and Technology Daily. 2021-08-09 (004).

[2] Brain connects the future: Has the brain-computer interface reached an explosive inflection point? [N]. Tao Li. 21st Century Business Herald. 2022-09-09 (012).

[3] Brain-computer interface: How far is it from turning dreams into reality? [N]. Xu Weibing. China Economic Times. 2022-09-16 (002).

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Source: Global News, Zhihu

Nature magazine, Annual Reviews, Tencent News

Author: Tang Yu Communication University of China

Editor: Guru