Neural implants and generative AI have sparked discussions about the possibility of “reading minds” and the implications it would have on privacy. However, before jumping to conclusions, it is important to understand the limitations of these technologies.
Conscious experience is believed to arise from brain activity, meaning that specific patterns of neuron firing correspond to different mental states. Theoretically, if a device can track these brain states, it should be able to read our minds. However, the challenge lies in identifying precise correspondences between mental states and brain states.
For example, distinguishing the brain states associated with seeing a red rose from those associated with smelling, touching, imagining, or thinking about a red rose is extremely difficult. This becomes even more complex when considering other perceptions, imaginations, or thoughts. Identifying the neural processes responsible for conscious perception is a herculean task that current neuroscience is far from solving.
Even if significant progress is made in neuroscience, it would only reveal the neural correlates of general experiences, not specific ones. Therefore, even with advanced technology, it would be challenging to determine from a brain scan whether someone is perceiving Barack Obama, their mother, or an unfamiliar face.
Neural implants are designed to assist patients in specific tasks, such as moving a cursor on a screen. While they can approximate the neural processes associated with these intentions, they do not establish precise mappings between mental states and brain states. Similarly, non-invasive brain scans combined with generative AI can decode continuous narratives to some extent but struggle to capture the complexity of our mental lives.
While AI development has made remarkable progress in recent years, it is important to approach the idea of AI-powered mind-reading with caution. Our understanding of the brain is still limited, and the complexities of our mental experiences make it challenging to accurately capture them through technology.
