“Lobotomized” is a casually tossed around insult online, often used to mock those who seem checked out or without critical thinking skills. In the past, however, this term applied to people who had undergone a lobotomy, an invasive procedure designed to cure mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression. In reality, it led to further loss in mental abilities and horrifying side effects. While we see this as a way of the past, some are comparing Elon Musk’s new Neuralink to it. This moderately sized implant is surgically inserted through the skull, with the intent being to translate brain waves into digital signals. Despite the theorized benefits the chip offers, widespread Neuralink use would beg the question of if technology is truly invading the human experience, and therefore should be questioned morally before being put into widespread production.
Theorizing, creating, and problem-solving through hundreds of generations has crafted the world we live in today. The introduction of Neuralink would not add to our mental capacity, but allow us to access information without the perseverance and curiosity that all humans before us experienced.
Neuralink blends the lines between human minds and computers. This introduces certain aspects of technology into the mind, such as advertisements. The ability for a company to tap into and advertise in your brain sounds terrifying, but it’s a risk some are juggling as the technology improves. Already, humans are bombarded with advertisements, especially online, totalling an average of 76 daily. An escape from this is in the comfort of our own minds, alone with our thoughts. If companies were given the freedom to tap into Neuralinks and promote their products, this would no longer be a possibility.
With a Neuralink implant, all the information in the world is accessible with only a thought. Without the need to ponder and hold a curiosity for the world that leads to seeking out experiences, isolation would increase, contributing to the existing loneliness epidemic caused and reinforced by social media.
However, many disadvantages of Neuralink still remain hypothetical, and some have benefitted in the real world. Noland Arbaugh became paralyzed from the neck down after an accident. However, Neuralink gave him the ability to access and use a computer. Despite the seeming success, wires came loose in his brain, and the Neuralink needed to be promptly removed.
Neuralink, if it's ever released commercially, will be a choice dependent on the circumstances of individuals. For some, it may return normality to life after an life-altering accident. For others, Neuralink may isolate them from their humanity and the world. Before it becomes widespread, people must pause to consider the downsides of placing the internet inside their brains and how it affects us as a species.