The Chinese technological system that is capable of “mind reading”

Definitely, technology is at the mercy of the human being for good and bad things. Here, the problem that many fear is that through artificial intelligence, the government or certain companies have absolute control of people, who in philosophical terms, would cease to be when they lose that individuality that characterizes them.

Although it seems to be an idea only from science fiction stories, the reality is that there are currently some Chinese Tech Firms, that with government support, are developing “mind reading” systems, capable of determining the emotional state of a person, which are already applied in factories, hospitals, trains or even in the army, according to the newspaper South China Morning Post.

Although other countries such as the United States have similar technologies, China is the first country to put them to such extensive and practical use, the newspaper notes, warning that these advances raise ethical dilemmas.

To “read minds” small wireless sensors are used in contact with the head, often hidden under helmets or caps, which they constantly monitor the subject’s brain waves and send data to computers that use artificial intelligence algorithms to measure it.

This allows detect emotions such as depression, anxiety and anger, something that, for example, is used in the Chinese high-speed railways: if one of these sensors discovers that the driver feels sleepy, an alarm goes off in the cabin.

Its use has also spread to factories and industrial centers, according to the newspaper, which gives as examples the Zhongheng Electric telecommunications equipment production line, in Hangzhou (east), or the electric company of that same city, facilities where an error Human can cause a lot of economic losses.

“When the system issues a warning, the boss asks his employee to take a day off or move you to a less critical position. Some jobs require high concentration and there is no room for mistakes”, explains Jin Jia, professor of neuroscience and cognitive psychology, from the University of Ningbo (east).

That university is one of the main research centers for brain reading technologies, through its Neuro Cap project, funded by the Chinese government.

These types of sensors have also been used in Chinese military operations, they confirmed from the project, although they did not give more details given the secrecy that usually surrounds the Chinese Armed Forces.

Those responsible for these programs in China acknowledge the fear that mind reading can arouse in many, as well as other technologies that the country is developing, such as facial recognition systems.

“They think we can read their minds, which causes them discomfort and resistance at first, but after a while they get used to the device, which looks like a safety helmet,” he explained to the newspaper. South China Morning Post el professor Jin Jia.