Achieving Super-Intelligence by Implanting Tiny Computer in Brain

Researchers have been working to develop minimally invasive methods to hack the human brain and squeeze out more of its potential.

Recent technological advancements could make this possible within the next five years, Northwestern University neuroscientist Dr. Moran Cerf told CBS – but, he warns the move could also create new forms of social inequality.

‘Make it so that it has an internet connection, and goes to Wikipedia, and when I think this particular thought, it gives me the answer,’ Cerf told CBS.

The neuroscientist and business professor is currently working to develop one such chip, with the goal of improving human intelligence by melding it with technology.

This idea has taken off in recent years, with initiatives such as Elon Musk-backed Neuralink working to develop brain-computer interfaces.

DARPA has also expressed continued interest in the field as it works to enhance soldiers’ cognitive abilities and grasp on technology.

‘Everyone is spending a lot of time right now trying to find ways to get things into the brain without drilling a hole in your skull,’ Cerf told CBS.

‘Can you eat something that will actually get to your brain? Can you eat things in parts that will assemble inside your head.’

According to Cerf, we may be just a few years away from the solution. But, its use in everyday society could make for extreme intelligence gaps within a given population.

Just this past summer, the Pentagon’s research arm made moves in a project that intends to bridge the gap between humans and machines.

DARPA selected a number of teams in July to develop a neural interface as part of its new N3 program, with a goal of developing systems that would allow troops to send and receive information using their brainwaves, according to Nextgov.

This means troops could one day control drones, cyber defense systems, and other technology with their mind.

It might sound like science fiction, but the agency is looking to see this done in one of two ways: a non-invasive device outside of the body, or a non-surgical system that could be swallowed, injected, or delivered up the nose.

And in spring of 2017, the agency funded eight separate research efforts to determine if electrical stimulation can safely be used to 'enhance learning and accelerate training skills.'

The program, called the Targeted Neuroplasticity Training (TNT) program, aimed to use the body's peripheral nervous system to accelerate the learning process.

This would be done by activating a process known as 'synaptic plasticity' – a key process in the brain involved in learning – with electrical stimulation.

Ultimately, doing this could allow a person to quickly master complex skills that would normally take thousands of hours of practice.