Is mind reading an interference with the thought process?

Stating that leading companies such as Meta are working on analyzing and reconstructing brain activities, which are often called "mind reading" by combining artificial intelligence with neuroscience, experts also emphasize that a model developed by Meta's research team is claimed to reach an 80 percent accuracy rate in predicting what a person is thinking.

Stating that researchers from the University of Texas have also succeeded in converting brain activity into speech by using artificial intelligence, Asst. Prof. Belaynesh Chekol expressed that "When companies and organizations adopt this technology, they will have the power to control and manipulate individuals' private thoughts and secrets by accessing them.”

Üsküdar University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Computer Engineering, Asst. Prof. Belaynesh Chekol evaluated the "mind reading with artificial intelligence" technologies that have recently attracted the attention of the public.

At what stage are "mind reading" studies?

Stating that leading companies such as Meta are working on analyzing and recreating brain activities, which are generally called "mind reading" among the people, by combining artificial intelligence with neuroscience, Asst. Prof. Belaynesh Chekol said that "A model developed by Meta's research team is claimed to achieve an 80 percent accuracy rate in predicting what a person is thinking. Similarly, researchers from the University of Texas were able to translate brain activity into speech using artificial intelligence. Although these developments have promising potential for individuals who experience conditions that lead to speech disorders such as paralysis, they also bring serious ethical problems such as violation of personal privacy. The ethical dimensions of such technologies, which carry risks in terms of individual autonomy and data security, should not be ignored."

Does this technology affect individuals' privacy rights?

Stating that this technology will affect the privacy rights of individuals, Asst. Prof. Belaynesh Chekol stated that "When companies and organizations adopt this technology, they will have the power to control and manipulate individuals' private thoughts and secrets by accessing them.”

Data collected from users should be handled with caution

Referring to which ethical principles and regulatory standards should be established for the use of the developed artificial intelligence model, Asst. Prof. " Belaynesh Chekol stated that Data collected from users should be carefully considered in terms of how it is collected, stored, used, and shared. Similarly, neural data obtained from individuals requires strict ethical considerations to protect their privacy, security, and trust."

Users should be informed about the ownership of neural data

Asst. Prof. Belaynesh Chekol also listed some basic ethical principles as follows:

"Explicit and Reversible Consent: Users should be fully informed of the purpose, format, duration, and ownership of their neural data and have the ability to withdraw their consent at any time.

Transparency: Individuals should be made aware of the potential benefits and limitations of technology to enable informed decision-making.

Privacy Protection: Like other sensitive data, neural data must be protected with robust measures to prevent unauthorized access or misuse.

Balance: Instead of over-dependency or complete ignorance in the use of artificial intelligence, a balanced approach should be adopted; Both extremes can lead to problems.

Regulatory Compliance: The adoption of such technologies must comply with both national and international laws and regulations.

In addition, relevant devices and systems should be monitored regularly to ensure that they are adapting to evolving standards and innovations. Continuous assessment of possible risks is also vital to minimize negative impacts."

Is this technology interfering with individuals' thought processes?

Addressing the issue of whether these technologies interfere with the thought processes of individuals, Asst. Prof. Belaynesh Chekol said that "Yes, naturally, the data accessed is neural data that encompasses our emotions, thoughts, secrets, and general mental state. If such sensitive information is collected and used for various purposes without the consent or intention of the user, this constitutes a serious interference. This unauthorized use not only violates privacy, but also undermines trust and autonomy, raising important ethical and moral concerns."

What would be the psychological effects of mind-reading technology?

Pointing out the potential effects of mind reading technology on the general security of society and the psychology of individuals, Asst. Prof. Belaynesh Chekol expressed that "Some of the significant psychological effects on individuals include high self-monitoring, in which a person becomes hyper-conscious of their own thought processes. This can include feelings of being judged, controlled or manipulated, as well as the fear that the person will be spied on or denounced for thoughts that are temporary and do not fully reflect themselves. Over time, these cumulative effects can strain personal relationships, disrupt family dynamics, and lead to broader tensions within communities."

We should neither be completely dependent on them, nor should we avoid them completely...

Referring to the saying "There is a good in every evil", Asst. Prof. Belaynesh Chekol said that "Mind-reading technologies or similar artificial intelligence applications are more like 'evil in good'. If we do not properly understand these hidden risks, the potential benefits they offer may be wasted. Whether it is mind-reading technologies or other AI-powered tools, it is essential that we take the time to better understand them and strike a balance, both as individuals and as a community, rather than becoming completely dependent on them or avoiding them entirely. For now, mind-reading technologies are not accessible to everyone, at least not yet."

 

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)