How Do We Co-Exist With Advanced 'Mind-Reading' AI?
How do we define privacy in a world where AI can read and translate our thoughts into text and image?
By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | December 1, 2023
A groundbreaking paper in Nature Neuroscience seems straight out of a sci-fi movie. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin successfully developed a non-invasive "language decoder" that can read brainwaves and interpret what people are thinking in real-time, making it one of the most important developments in the field of human-AI interaction today. This raises a crucial question: What are we planning to do with this superpower?
Here are some possibilities:
- It seems likely that this technology will enable speech impaired or paralyzed people to communicate using thought alone.
- This technology may aid criminal investigations.
- This technology, once it matures and makes its way into the hands of social media companies (or the government), may "listen in" to our private thoughts, effectively rendering privacy a thing of the past.
While the first two points seem like net positives, here's the scary part: When it comes to the third point, the wheels are already in motion.
Meta, the social media conglomerate, recently published a paper highlighting advancements in decoding brain activity, particularly in visual perception. Its research shows a significant leap in real-time decoding of visual processes in the human brain, using magnetoencephalography (MEG), which offers a much higher temporal resolution compared to traditional fMRI. Simply put, Meta is now capable of visualizing, with precision, what a person is looking at simply based on their brain activity.
This breakthrough suggests not only an improvement in interpreting high-level visual features but also paves the way for more sophisticated AI systems capable of "seeing" through our eyes in real-time.
Here are two ways this can affect how we live our lives.
1. We Are At The Cusp Of An Ethical Dilemma About 'Visual Hacking'
Once this visual perception technology is refined and integrated into social media, AI is likely to "see" what you look at and suggest, with unprecedented (and near-perfect) precision, where your interests lie. This is bound to impact consumer spending behavior in a big way.
Even without this technology integrated, social media algorithms have already hijacked our spending behaviors, according to a 2016 study that suggests even neutral or negative posts with high engagement can drive more sales than positive but less popular posts.
Once AI is able to read your mind, social media ad engagement will amplify consumer spending, potentially leading to impulsive purchases. This is a problem for two reasons:
- Social media may double down and push hyper-tailored content that tempts vulnerable individuals to mimic a lifestyle that their finances cannot sustain. A survey by Forbes Advisor found that nearly half of all travelers (48%) were influenced by social media to visit destinations. This effect is exacerbated by peer pressure and fear of missing out, with 44% increasing travel budgets under such influence, and 74% feeling pressured to emulate seen lifestyles. Gen Z, particularly, is vulnerable to this trend, with 78% taking on credit card debt or overspending their budget for travel inspired by social media.
- Opting out isn't simple. In their paper, Meta explains that user consent is a technical requirement for AI-assisted mind reading, so opting out is a possibility. However, users who choose to do so might miss out on tailored experiences, potentially feeling sidelined in a world increasingly driven by personalized digital interactions. In an era where AI can "read" our visual interests, will those who value privacy over personalization be left at a disadvantage?
It's too early to predict how our ethics will evolve alongside AI. That said, here's what we can say with some certainty: We need to independently hone our willpower and collectively shape a set of new regulations for the social media sphere.
2. AI-Enhanced Surveillance May Fundamentally Change The Human Thought Process
People behave differently when they are watched. A 2016 study found a marked decline in Wikipedia searches for certain terrorism-related terms following Edward Snowden's revelations about NSA surveillance. This shift was attributed not to fear of prosecution but to self-censorship, indicating a deep-seated change in behavior due to surveillance awareness.
This behavior arises from not knowing the boundaries of acceptable actions and the severe penalties for crossing them.
With AI-powered mind reading, this tendency might intensify. If individuals know that their most private thoughts could be accessed, it may lead to a profound shift in how they behave and think, fundamentally altering the nature of personal freedom and expression.
Conclusion
This moment marks a critical juncture in our history, where our co-evolution with technology reaches new, uncharted territories. AI-powered mind reading differs significantly due to its impact on the essence of human thought and privacy. It's vital that we stay informed about these advancements and actively engage in shaping regulations. As AI redefines our interaction with technology, placing humans at the center of this evolution is crucial for ensuring that these advancements enhance, rather than compromise, our fundamental rights and freedoms.