Ten years ago, the idea that you could have devices that interacted with people’s brains was still in the realm of science fiction, and few people took it seriously. Sci-fi toyed with the idea, but it was always many years in the future, usually centuries.
Fast forward to 2025, and the situation seems more tenuous. It’s no longer clear whether brain interfaces are something that’s still in the human future, or a concrete part of its present.
What Are Brain Interface Technologies?
Brain interface technologies are essential devices that can read or stimulate brain signals. The idea is to “expand” the brain by helping it access more information or existing AIs to enhance its processing power.
Currently, there are some major and high-profile players in the space, like Neuralink and Synchron looking to push the technology forward. Currently, they are focusing on medical interventions, but the grand project is to connect humans to AIs so that they become symbiotic, and one doesn’t wind up dominating the other.
Such projects seem infeasible under current FDA guidelines. However, approvals and clinical trials are going ahead, and many people in the medical community would like to see the technology advance further.
“Medical device cybersecurity takes on a whole new meaning when it goes inside patients’ brains,” says Blue Goat Cyber, a firm that consults with manufacturers on how to keep their technology safe. “The last thing anyone wants to see is a computer virus wreaking havoc inside the brain of a real person.”
The Promise Of Brain-Interface Technologies
Brain-interface technologies are becoming more prominent because of their capacities to restore movement disorders and treat various neurological conditions. Many medical professionals see them as a way to improve quality of life and perhaps communication in people who haven’t been able to talk or hear in a long time.
With the aging population and rising dementia rates, these technologies may also be beneficial for improved memory and learning. Cybernetics could potentially enhance brain function and enable people to think and interact in the ways they used to by outsourcing some of the processing requirements to a computer.
Early trials are, interestingly, showing some success. Epilepsy patients appear to be benefiting already, while those seeking cognitive enhancement are also seeing some limited progress.
The Dangers
Of course, brain-interface technology is perhaps among the most dangerous out there. The potential for harm is enormous, especially if nefarious actors could take control.
One risk is the potential for brain damage and infections from the devices themselves. Present-day technology is microscopic, but it isn’t nanoscopic, meaning that it is still large enough to have a significant impact on brain tissue. The current state-of-the-art is to use hair-like probes inserted into brain tissue to collect information, but these could be potentially harmful if not cleaned properly.
The long-term effects of such devices is also unknown. Currently, there’s some pushback against other in-body devices because of the apparent increase in the risk of cancer. The same may be true of brain-interface devices if they use the wrong material or insertion techniques.
Privacy is another danger. The risk of hacking is real, and criminals could potentially access private thoughts, emotions, or anything else occurring in the brain.
“Medical devices have to meet high security and privacy standards,” explains Blue Goat Cyber, “before being allowed onto the market. Any product that collects and stores information is a potential target. Brain-interface technology takes these risks to the next level because of the closeness to the brain itself. The fact that criminals could access the brain directly via an electronic device connected to the internet is a novel risk and something that ethicists should consider seriously.”
Consequently, consent may be an issue when using in-brain devices. Once the equipment is installed, it will be challenging to figure out whether the person wants to keep it, or whether their implants are manipulating them into believing they should.
Throw AI into the mix, and the situation becomes even more difficult. Software could adjust the parameters of its operation and change how it responds to the patients’ internal stimuli to support its own goals.
Finally, some critics are concerned about the potential of brain-interface technology to worsen existing inequality. Wealthy people who can afford to hook their brains up to the cloud stand to benefit even more, perhaps from enhanced motivation or cognitive abilities. These changes may allow them to amass even more wealth, pushing other people down the social hierarchy and pecking order.
What Experts Are Saying
Experts have mixed views on the value of brain-interfaces. Some see them as a good idea, particularly those in the industry, while others only see risks.
Currently, there are gaps in EU and FDA regulatory frameworks because the technology is so new. It is something of a Wild West, with various experiments being conducted across the globe.
With that said, most patients remain unwilling to accept such implants. Brain-interfaces require invasive surgery to install, and a lot of people simply aren’t prepared to go through the risks, regardless of the opinions of bioethicists in the field.
The Road Ahead
So, what’s likely to happen in the future regarding brain-interface technology?
The first step will likely be regulatory developments. Industry leaders don’t want to invest billions of dollars into their systems without first knowing the rules. While marvelous technology may be possible in this realm, they need to ensure that they receive a payback for their efforts.
Going forward, public perception is likely to change. Currently, it is off the radar of most people, but it will likely go through a period of excitement of skepticism (with the latter being the most obvious)., The overall question is how society will balance safety with progress. No effort has been put into ensuring that social media or AI is safe, so it is unlikely that the same will occur for brain implants. The FDA has some oversight because it is a medical issue, but the technology remains speculative and mostly outside the public eye.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: Trump sits in the Oval Office in the White House. Cover Photo Credit: Михаил Крамор
