Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) are developing computer chips to implant in the human brain for the purpose of data collection. President Obama began the BRAIN Initiative (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) in 2013 to begin developing these intrusive devices. They claim the chip will be so small that people will not even notice it. Well, the future is knocking on the door. Should we make these implants mandatory for politicians? Perhaps if they are controlled by a computer it will end corruption — just a thought.
Nonetheless, research in this area is now fully underway. President Obama said:
“Last year [2013], I launched the BRAIN Initiative to help unlock the mysteries of the brain, to improve our treatment of conditions like Alzheimer’s and autism and to deepen our understanding of how we think, learn and remember. I’m pleased to announce new steps that my Administration is taking to support this critical research, and I’m heartened to see so many private, philanthropic, and academic institutions joining this effort.”
The BRAIN Initiative Industry is real and alive. This is not science fiction; this is a new industry of neural interface technology, components, and systems for neuroscience and clinical applications. Where this all leads is anyone’s guess. The memorandum of understanding between the National Institutes of Health Department of Health & Human Services and private companies explains the intended government purpose.
