UN body sets standards for neurotech

Even as artificial intelligence (AI) and its various versions receive attention, another rapidly developing and influential force is neurotechnology.

- KRANTI NATION PRANJAL SHARMA

Unesco, in a landmark action, has adopted a global ethics framework on neurotechnology for member states. “The recommendation, which will enter into force on November 12, establishes essential safeguards to ensure that neurotechnology contributes to improving the lives of those who need it the most, without jeopardising human rights,” Unesco said in a statement last week.

The technology encompasses a range of methods designed to directly measure, modulate, or stimulate the human nervous system. In medicine, it holds significant promise: Deep brain stimulation is already effective in treating neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease and severe depression. Furthermore, brain-computer interfaces are revolutionising the lives of individuals with disabilities by enabling communication and prosthetic control through thought alone.