A Third of U.S. Adults Say They’d Be ‘Enthusiastic’ About Having a Microchip Implanted in Brain

THE FREE THOUGHT PROJECT

Over one-third of Americans would not only accept a microchip implant in their brain, but would be “enthusiastic” about the receiving the device to ‘enhance their thinking power.’

Once the subject of dystopian science fiction novels, three emerging technologies served as a focal point for a new survey to glean the public’s willingness to accept what many would call exceedingly invasive biomedical ‘enhancements.’

Pew Research Center surveyed 4,726 adults — 47 of whom additionally agreed to participate in focus groups — to discernnot only how well putative biomedical advancements might be received, but where the public stands on inherent ethical and moral questions arising from their use.

Given previous trepidations and warnings from government whistleblowers such technology could easily be employed for less than benevolent purposes, results proved a startling level of both acceptance and eagerness.

Keep in mind, every one of these technologies, while not yet widely available for elective use, are actively being developed — and though the majority of those surveyed expressed reservations for their use in otherwise healthy people, a significant number essentially said, ‘sign me up.’

Though 69 percent of respondents claimed they would be “worried” about an implant — known as a neuroprosthesis — to improve cognitive abilities, fully 34 percent said they were “enthusiastic” about the idea. Largely divided along religious lines, many felt such invasive technology to improve the ability to think and process information would cross the line of “meddling” too much with nature.

But of the three biomedical ‘improvements’ in question, a microchip brain implant was perhaps the least Orwellian — as well as the least accepted.

As Pew reported:

“New developments in biochemistry are creating the possibility of using a synthetic blood substitute (sometimes referred to as ‘superblood’[!!!]) to significantly boost people’s oxygen levels in the bloodstream. With the synthetic blood substitute, a higher concentration of oxygen would be carried from the lungs to the muscles through the bloodstream and could significantly improve an individual’s physical speed, strength and stamina. This, in turn, could allow people to function in extreme conditions, or to simply perform everyday tasks with greater ease.”

Less people, 62 percent, remained skeptical or distrusting of such technology than of neuroprostheses, while a greaternumber, 37 percent, were at least “somewhat enthusiastic” about its possibilities.

“Right now, this man-made substitute for blood is being developed for people with some kind of illness or medical condition,” Pew explained. “But in the future, a transfusion with this kind of synthetic blood substitute could be developed for use by healthy individuals …”

But the biomedical advancement garnering the most enthusiasm would not concern any of the adults surveyed — but would be performed on children.

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