A/Prof. Frederic Gilbert1
1University Of Tasmania, Australia
Biography:
Bio to come
Abstract:
Ethical Hype: The case of Mind-reading in AI and neurotechnology.
In recent years, there has been a notable surge in academic literature, mainstream media coverage, and reports from influential international agencies—such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and UNESCO—depicting AI and neurotechnology as capable of reading the brain. Claims that brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can decode neural activity and interpret our thoughts have prompted prominent scholars to advocate for the creation of new human rights, referred to as "neurorights," to safeguard against the potential misuse and abuse of these technologies, particularly the fear of having our minds read. Several jurisdictions, including Chile and Colorado, have already enacted legal provisions to address these ethical concerns, while many others, such as Spain and Brazil, are considering similar developments.
Our presentation critically examines the scientific and ethical claims surrounding these so-called brain-reading technologies, particularly their alleged ability to read human minds. Our research highlights the direct relationship between AI hype and the corresponding ethical hype. As technological claims become more inflated, the associated ethical concerns escalate in parallel.
Our study provides evidence of the ethical hype surrounding AI and BCIs, especially in relation to their purported mind-reading capabilities. This ethical hype is often driven by speculative ethics, characterized by the "if-then-there" syndrome, where hypothetical scenarios are constructed to justify the establishment of new protective human rights based on the imagined potential of AI-enabled mind-reading. Despite the hype surrounding certain aspects of neurorights, particularly regarding mind-reading claims, the necessity for stringent regulations and policies governing AI and BCI advancements—especially their impact on agency, access, consent, privacy, and data extraction—remains critical and should not be overlooked.