It is perhaps in our nature to constantly evolve and seek opportunities to nurture our transformation. However, in an increasingly technologically reliant society, more and more people turn to tech-related opportunities, seeking to satisfy the thrill of pleasure, confidence, and growth. This suave dance between the flesh and the machine is blurring the lines for what it means to be human. Akin to Pygmalion, the sculptor who sought perfection in his creations and fell in love with his own sculpture that came to life, our aspirations for self-enhancement can also materialise with a mere touch. Yet, like the sculptor’s creation in his pursuit of perfection, these dreams demand caution if we are to breathe life into technological ambitions responsibly. This article explores the future implications of human augmentation on security, examining how technological advancements could transform the way we approach both physical and digital threats.
By Denisa Damian
Introduction
Once a concept confined solely to science fiction movies, human augmentation is rapidly transforming into a tangible reality. While Hollywood often portrays such enhanced humans through flashy, futuristic technology, the reality is that we are on the cusp of witnessing such innovations quite soon. Far from the realm of fiction, human augmentation is moving into the sphere of real-world applications, especially in the field of defence and healthcare.
What is Human Augmentation?
Human augmentation encompasses a broad array of technologies designed to enhance the capabilities of the human body and mind. From exoskeletons and prosthetic limbs to brain-computer interfaces and gene editing, these innovations hold the potential to revolutionise society as we know it. The aim is to restore, enhance, and optimise human functions, enabling individuals to surpass their natural limitations. In the realm of security, the integration of such technologies could create more resilient, efficient, and capable individuals - ideal for military applications, law enforcement, or even roles requiring high-performance decision-making and related to nuclear policies [1]. For instance, the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has recently launched a £2 million competition aimed at developing novel human augmentation technologies to enhance human capabilities in defence settings [2]. Similarly, the US is actively looking to improve the performance of soldiers on the battlefields, either by the enhanced use of exoskeletons, or improving the “motorisation of the lower body” [3]. These initiatives are a clear example of how these advancements are being actively pursued to improve human performance, laying the foundation for a future where the line between human potential and technological enhancement is increasingly blurred. The drive for enhancement is to enable humanity to reach its fullest potential. However, some of the core areas related to this are cognitive abilities beyond the ordinary, better physical endurance, and even enhanced sensory perception.
The Challenges and Vulnerabilities of Human Augmentation
As with any emerging technology, human augmentation carries inherent risks, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity, privacy, and ethics. This creates a delicate balance between progress and danger. For example, one of the most pressing concerns is the security of augmented systems. Just as our smartphones, computers, and networks are vulnerable to cyberattacks, so too are the technologies we implant into our bodies. The risks are amplified when considering the sophisticated nature of the implants and the potential consequences of a breach. Imagine a brain-computer interface (BCI) that allows for thought-controlled devices - if such systems were hacked, the possibilities for manipulation become frighteningly vast. Augmented individuals could be coerced into performing actions against their will, or worse, become pawns in a potential cyber-attack [4]. This would require the traditional criminal justice system, laws, policing methods and surveillance tactics to radically change to mitigate these dangers and keep ensuring the protection of individuals’ rights and freedoms.
Equally, human augmentation can spark a new digital battlefield, one where not only systems and data are at risk, but where human beings themselves become the target. For example, consider the introduction of neural implants designed to enhance cognitive abilities or treat disorders like depression or PTSD. While the potential benefits are immense, the risks tied to their misuse or failure are equally profound. If the data they collect or the actions they trigger can be altered or corrupted, the stakes are no longer about loss of information, but rather the very essence of personal identity and free will [5]. This opens a realm where the manipulation of human behaviour (whether for personal, political, or military gain) becomes an alarming possibility. With human beings effectively becoming “soft targets”, the implications for security are staggering.
Security-related Implications
As this technology continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly alter the landscape of security. One of the key shifts will be in decision-making [6]. Augmented individuals, with enhanced cognitive capabilities, could make faster, more accurate decisions in high-stress environments, such as military operations or crisis management. However, the very speed and precision that these technologies promise could also become a double-edged sword. The rush to make split-second decisions in critical moments could lead to quick actions based on incomplete or erroneous information. The heightened ability for cognitive processing could, ironically, increase the risk of errors when time is crucial. While technology can improve judgement, it can also accelerate the rate at which mistakes are made, particularly when human emotions and biases are involved.
Furthermore, the widespread adoption of augmentation technologies will likely shift global power dynamics. States that are first to adopt and perfect nuclear technologies, for instance, could gain a significant advantage in military, intelligence, and diplomatic arenas. Countries without access to such enhancements may find themselves at a disadvantage, leading to a new form of inequality on the world stage [7]. The future of warfare may no longer be determined by the size of an army but by the technological capabilities of the individuals that compose it. To mitigate such risks, careful regulation and oversight will be required. The priority must be to ensure that these technologies are secure, protecting both the individuals who use them and the systems they interact with from potential cyberattacks. Privacy concerns must also be addressed, as augmented individuals may become walking data collection systems. Technologies designed to monitor or enhance brain function could inadvertently breach personal privacy, collecting sensitive information without consent. As such, regulatory bodies will need to establish clear guidelines for how personal data is handled, shared, and protected in the context of human augmentation.
In addition to national regulation, international agreements will be necessary to manage the global proliferation of human augmentation technologies. Much like arms control treaties that seek to regulate the use of weapons, international frameworks should be developed to ensure the responsible and ethical use of enhancement technologies [8]. These agreements would need to address not only the ethical implications but also the security risks associated with their military and civilian applications.
Conclusion
In the end, the future of human augmentation is not just a matter of technological development but also a question of governance, ethics, and security. As we breathe life into the possibilities of human enhancement, we should remember the fragile line between improvement and unintended consequence, between the desire to transcend our limits and the risk of losing ourselves in the process. Just as Pygmalion sculpted a beautiful figure, so too must we sculpt a future that is mindful, secure, and humane.
References
[1] Favaro, Marina, and Elke Schwarz. "Human Augmentation and Nuclear Risk." Arms Control Today 52, no. 2 (2022), pp. 20-25. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27114391
[2] Defence and Security Accelerator. “£2 million available for novel human augmentation innovations to enhance human capability in defence”, UK Government, April 21, 2023. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2-million-available-for-novel-human-augmentation-innovations-to-enhance-human-capability-in-defence.
[3] Bourgois, Pierre. “Super-soldiers: augmented humans in wartime”, Polytechnique Insights, June 23, 2022. Available at: https://www.polytechnique-insights.com/en/braincamps/society/work-health-military-is-the-augmented-human-revolution-already-here/super-soldiers-augmented-humans-in-wartime/.
[4] Li, Zicong. "Ethical problems concerning human augmentation technology and its future aspects." In 7th International Conference on Humanities and Social Science Research (ICHSSR 2021), 2021, pp. 1149-1153.
[5] Sharma, Aryaman, Kainat Khan, and Rahul Katarya. "Human Augmentation Technology - A Cybersecurity Review for Widespread Adoption." In 2022 13th International Conference on Computing Communication and Networking Technologies (ICCCNT), 2022, pp. 1-4. DOI: 10.1109/ICCCNT54827.2022.9984500.
[6] Raisamo, Roope, Ismo Rakkolainen, Päivi Majaranta, Katri Salminen, Jussi Rantala, and Ahmed Farooq. "Human augmentation: Past, present and future." International Journal of Human-Computer Studies 131 (2019): 131-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2019.05.008
[7] Villa, Steeven, Thomas Kosch, Felix Grelka, Albrecht Schmidt, and Robin Welsch. "The placebo effect of human augmentation: Anticipating cognitive augmentation increases risk-taking behavior." Computers in Human Behavior 146 (2023): 107787. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107787
[8] Yoon, Youngsam, and Il-Joo Cho. "A review of human augmentation and individual combat capability: focusing on MEMS-based neurotechnology." Micro and Nano Systems Letters 12, no. 1, 2024, pp. 1-9. DOI: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/27114391
