An argument for brain-computer interfaces
2024-03-20 · 4 min read
Over the past half-decade, artificial intelligence has experienced unprecedented advancement, exhibiting a trajectory that is remarkable in both its speed and impact. Extrapolation of current trends reveals that the acceleration of digital intelligence markedly surpasses the progression of biological intelligence, demonstrating a growth rate orders of magnitude greater than that of human cognitive development.
This raises profound implications: what does it mean for humanity to exist in an environment where it no longer constitutes the top intelligence? Such a scenario is historically unprecedented and might indeed represent an uncharted and potentially hazardous evolutionary pathway.
I posit that an advanced AI system analogous to the fictional Jarvis may represent the ultimate iteration of contemporary large language models. Although speculative, this assertion seems logically sound. Yet, an inherent limitation exists in systems of this nature—they primarily function as facilitators, guiding individuals through problem-solving processes without necessarily fostering deeper comprehension. Crucially, the authentic assimilation of underlying concepts, ideas, and logical structures is fundamentally significant. Although the precise rationale behind this belief remains elusive, intuitively, such deep conceptual understanding must confer intrinsic value, possibly extending into metaphysical dimensions of human existence.
Given this context, the subsequent logical imperative is the enhancement of communication interfaces—specifically, augmenting the rate and quality of data exchange between humans and advanced AI systems. If humanity is to effectively coexist or collaborate with intelligence superior to our own, the establishment of robust, high-bandwidth, and low-latency communication channels becomes critical. Indeed, communication capacity emerges as a principal constraint.
Examining human history through the lens of knowledge dissemination reveals a clear evolutionary progression. Initial communication occurred through oral transmission, followed by inscriptions on stone and subsequently parchment. The advent of the printing press represented a pivotal transformation, drastically scaling up the dissemination of information.
The introduction of the internet heralded an equally transformative revolution, profoundly reshaping not only the accessibility of knowledge but also fundamentally redefining the nature of human interaction with information. The internet transcended mere educational utility, inaugurating a higher order of cognitive engagement.
In this continuum of evolving interaction with knowledge, brain-computer interfaces arguably represent the next frontier—ushering in an era characterized by unprecedented depth and immediacy in our engagement with knowledge itself.