According to a study published this month by the US Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command, military augmentation that enhances brain, muscle, hearing and vision capabilities is "technically possible by 2050 or earlier."
According to Defense Department researchers, the demand for the capabilities of augmented human (augmented people) will depend in part on the civil health market, which will allow people to get used to an industry fraught with ethical, legal and social problems.
However, the introduction of this technology in the military, among other issues, is likely to bump into the dystopian narratives found in science fiction, the researchers said.
The report, entitled Cyborg Soldier 2050: The Fusion of Man and Machine and Its Implications for the Future of the Department of Defense (CCDC CBC-TR-1599, Cyborg Soldier 2050: Human / Machine Fusion and the Implications for the Future of the DOD), is the result of annual assessment.
The work was written by special order of the DoD (Department of Defense) by a research group from the Council on Biotechnology for Health and Human Activities under the US Department of Defense. The group was asked to assess the potential combat, social and other effects caused by the introduction of this new military biotechnology.
As technically feasible by 2050 or earlier, the team identified four possibilities:
a) Optical augmentation to improve visualization and situational awareness;
b) Programmable tactile and muscle control using a sensory suit with muscle amplifiers;
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c) Implants to improve hearing ability;
c) Direct neural amplification of the human brain for two-way data transmission.
The research team suggested that neural enhancements like these should revolutionize combat:
“This technology is supposed to facilitate the dialogue between people and machines, between people and people, since it is assumed that there is direct brain-to-computer or brain-to-brain interaction. Such interaction would allow soldiers to communicate directly with UAVs and other autonomous combat systems, as well as with other people. In addition, the technology itself will dramatically simplify and optimize existing management and control systems."
The researchers noted that similar technologies will likely be used in the civilian sector over the next 30 years. However, the research team notes that the development of these opportunities will likely "depend on civil demand" and "a sustainable bioeconomy, which is in the earliest stages of the development of today's global market.
However, according to estimates, after 2050, the consequences of the introduction of these technologies become more and more dramatic:
"The emergence of augmented people among DoD staff on a full-time basis, as well as among the civilian population, will accelerate dramatically after 2050, which is likely to lead to social imbalance and in the established legal, protective and ethical framework, as well as sharp social inequality.", The researchers write in their resume.
In light of both positive and negative expectations from the new technology, the researchers offer seven critical recommendations, listed in no particular order, for Pentagon leaders to consider:
1. US political leaders should now use forums such as NATO to discuss how the appearance of augmented soldiers might affect compatibility between allied forces during operations.
2. The Pentagon must start investing in legal, security and ethical frameworks today to anticipate emerging technologies, better prepare for their impact and reap all the possible benefits for the United States, its allies and assets."
3. Today in science fiction, augmentation technology is a traditional component of a dark dystopian future, so military leaders urgently need to start working to "reverse negative cultural narratives about technology improvement."
4. The Pentagon must use war games to assess the impact of asymmetric biotechnology on tactics, methods and procedures.
5. Development and standardization of augment technologies should be at the state level. Federal and commercial investments in these areas are currently far ahead of similar Chinese developments - they are not coordinated, so the Chinese will most likely dominate the commercial sector, which puts the US defense sector at a disadvantage.
6. The military should take another look at the global and public perception of the increase in the number of augmentation equipment. Americans usually imagine that China or Russia is secretly developing such technologies due to lack of ethical considerations, but “the real attitude of our opponents towards these technologies has never been verified.
7. Long-term safety concerns and the impact of these technologies on people must be carefully controlled.
"The benefits provided by the fusion of man and machine will be significant and will have a positive impact on the quality of life of humankind by restoring any functionality lost due to illness or injury," the research team writes.
However, experts further warn: "As these technologies evolve, it is vital that the scientific and engineering communities act with caution to maximize their potential and focus on the safety of our society."