By Lucien Crowder, February 14, 2018
Mad Scientist is “a US Army Training and Doctrine Command initiative and a community of action that continually explores the future.” Whatever that might mean. This “initiative and… community of action” operates a blog called Mad Scientist Laboratory, which last week published some species of short science fiction by a senior concept developer at Special Operations Command. In the story, called “Sine Pari,” a special operations officer interviews a prospective recruit, quizzing him about his hacking skills and his “augments,” which turn out to include a “Neuralink BCI jack and a Samsung cognitive enhancement implant.” The story is a little hard to read, but it deals with a future in which humans enhance their abilities by implanting various types of technological devices.
Kelsey Atherton, writing at Fifth Domain, offers an analysis of the story that is worth quoting at some length. “The essence of ‘Sine Pari,’ Atherton observes, “is one of hackable bodies and hackable systems. … What is missing from this portrait, yet implied by this world, is the massive amount of cybersecurity back-end needed to secure… the devices people put into their bodies. … It’s… possible, following the logic of this world, that when [the recruit] joins the force, his cognitive enhancement contains malicious code, his eyes record everything he sees, and his brain-link transmits that information to an interested third party, who suddenly has eyes … inside a Special Operations unit.” That’s creepy, Kelsey.
As they used to say in blog land, read the whole thing.
The Bulletin elevates expert voices above the noise. But as an independent, nonprofit media organization, our operations depend on the support of readers like you. Help us continue to deliver quality journalism that holds leaders accountable. Your support of our work at any level is important. In return, we promise our coverage will be understandable, influential, vigilant, solution-oriented, and fair-minded. Together we can make a difference.