Brain enhancement using tech: Next-generation hacks to compete in a complex world

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• February 13, 2022

Insight summary

The use of technology to enhance brain function, including the application of machine learning and 'smart drugs', is experiencing a significant surge, altering our understanding of cognitive capacities. As these enhancements become more widespread, they have the potential to reshape multiple sectors including education and labor, prompting shifts in teaching strategies and job market dynamics. However, these advancements also bring about important ethical questions and considerations, including the potential for societal disparities based on access and affordability, and the need for new regulations to safeguard individual rights.

Brain enhancement context

The human brain is incredibly complex, but some scientists believe there remains room for improvement. For example, the use of 'smart drugs' is on the rise, with billions of people worldwide reportedly using stimulants (including coffee) every year to temporarily increase brain function. Pharmacological cognitive enhancement (PCE)—the non-medical use of smart drugs—rose significantly worldwide between 2015 and 2017, with the most significant increase seen in Europe. According to a study of 15 nations, 14 percent of people reported using non-medical substances such as smart drugs in 2017, a significant increase from the 5 percent reported in 2015.

Modern technologies also offer new ways to increase brain function; one example is machine learning (ML) algorithms being used to decode and enhance human memory by triggering the delivery of electric pulses to the brain. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania used algorithms to decode and enhance human memory by monitoring seizure-related electrical activity in epilepsy patients. This study, conducted in 2018, revealed that the algorithms could not only decode neural activities but stimulate them. 

Accordingly, machine learning is increasingly being used to improve the brain's ability to remember, and artificial intelligence (AI) is helping researchers increasingly understand how the brain works. In a separate study conducted in 2017, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) funded research into a brain device that reportedly increased learning speed by up to 40 percent. Researchers tested the device on macaques and found that it could offer a non-invasive and cost-effective way of altering humans' functional brain tissue connectivity in the near future. 

Disruptive impact

As brain enhancement technology develops, one significant shift we can expect is the broadening of human cognitive capacities. With the right tweaks, technology-assisted brain enhancement can lead to dramatic improvements in memory, focus, and processing speed. This development could reshape work sectors and education, as highly skilled tasks could become accessible to more people. Schools might need to adjust their teaching strategies to accommodate these new capabilities. Similarly, companies could leverage this technology to boost productivity and efficiency.

However, this surge in cognitive capabilities can also cause disruptions and may require the establishment of new norms. For instance, if brain enhancement technology becomes widely accessible, it could generate a cognitive gap between those who can afford it and those who cannot. This scenario could lead to significant societal disparities, prompting governments to intervene to maintain balance. Fairness in access and use of these enhancements could become a critical discussion point in the policy-making process.

Moreover, it's essential to consider the ethical implications of brain enhancement technologies. While the idea of improving cognitive abilities sounds appealing, it also raises questions about identity, privacy, and consent. For instance, could a person's improved cognitive abilities be manipulated or exploited? Will these enhancements be reversible? Addressing these questions might require new legal frameworks to safeguard individual rights and ensure ethical use of these technologies.

Implications of brain enhancement technologies

Wider implications of brain enhancement technologies may include:

• Assisting in memory recovery for patients who have experienced traumatic brain injuries.


• Complimenting the use of smart drugs for cognitive enhancement, as the non-medical use of these drugs is already seeing a significant rise.  


• New treatment options for patients who suffer from mental illnesses or disabilities.


• Complimenting the advancement of brain-computer interface technology that aims to decode human thought and allow humans to control machines with their minds, as well as enable synthetic telepathy, among other applications.


• Widespread brain enhancement redefining the concepts of intelligence and merit, forcing society to re-evaluate how it recognizes and rewards success.


• Increased governmental regulation to prevent misuse, which could then set the stage for new political debates around personal freedoms versus public safety.


• Changes in demographic trends, with an increase in lifespan due to enhanced cognitive health.


• A reshaping of the labor market, with jobs requiring complex problem-solving skills becoming more accessible to a broader segment of the population.


• The production and disposal of brain enhancement technologies requiring new waste management strategies to prevent harmful substances from these devices from causing environmental harm.

Questions to consider

• How might brain enhancement technologies impact societal inequality? Will it further divide the haves and have-nots? 


• What possible challenges could we face with the increased use of smart drugs without an evidence-based approach?


• Will AI technology power the future of brain enhancement? What do you think is the best alternative?