Mind-Reading AI: The Tension Between Healing & Unauthorized Surveillance

Did you know that severe anemia could put you in a coma?

Let me share one of the most terrifying—and recurring—experiences of my college years.

When I was an undergraduate student in Jamaica, I developed a terrible case of anemia. Lethargy is a common side-effect, but I experienced a completely different level of this. I would go to sleep and then not be able to wake up. Even worse, I was conscious of it.

It seems silly, but as a lucid dreamer, I couldn’t think of anything else to do but ask random “dream people” for help.

“Do you know where I am?” I would ask them. “Please, wake me up!”

I’ve often wondered if this is what it’s like to be in a coma. Do they also feel they are asleep against their will? Are they wandering helplessly around asking if someone will wake them up? 

Thanks to artificial intelligence, we might get some answers.

A Quick Recap: The Ethical Dilemma of Mind-Reading Tech

Last week, my newsletter asked: Can AI Big Brother Hack Your Brainwaves? 👀

We explored how AI had finally infiltrated the last frontier of human privacy and autonomy: our personal thoughts. I shared that:

• AI can not only read our thoughts, but even do it against our will. 

• Some countries have paved the way for neurorights, with Chile being the first to do so. 

• Ethicists are now sounding the alarm for more governments to follow suit.

Mind-reading tech is an alarming development, but there are interesting applications for even the most terrifying technology. For example, if your loved one slipped into a coma—or the level of anemic fatigue that I did—wouldn’t you want to communicate with them? 

Wouldn’t you want to help them wake up? I would.

👇🏽 Let’s take a closer look.

Coma Patients: A Voice in the Silence

For families dealing with the heartbreak of someone in a coma or vegetative state, one of the most painful questions is: 

Remarkably, the answer in some cases is yes.

Current BCI Treatments for Coma

BCIs offer a way to hear what the body can’t say. This isn’t new information either. Back in 2012, the American Neurological Association published a study that confirmed this. They found that, through tools like functional MRI and EEG, some patients labeled “non-responsive” are actually following instructions with their brain activity.

In one study, participants were asked to imagine playing tennis if they meant “yes” or navigating their home if they meant “no.” Their brain activity changed in reliably distinct patterns, giving them a crude but effective way to respond.

Ongoing Challenges of BCI for Coma Treatment

It's not easy. These systems must work around massive obstacles: 

• Damaged attention spans

• Fluctuating brain signals

• Uncertain intent

But even minimal success can mean the world to families desperate for a sign. It can also help unresponsive patients exercise some autonomy.

Dementia Patients: Rewiring the Mind

With more than 55 million people worldwide living with dementia, the stakes could not be higher. That number is rising, and so are the challenges that come with memory loss and aging.

Current BCI Treatments for Dementia

Some scientists are working on BCI systems that use a method called neurofeedback training to slow down memory loss. The system reads a person’s brain activity in real time and shows how the brain works. Then, they can train their brain to improve performance. 

Studies have shown that this method can improve attention, memory, and even consciousness in elderly patients with cognitive impairments. For example, a 2020 report showed it can help patients form new memories and keep older ones longer.

Future BCI Treatments for Dementia

Researchers also suggest that dementia patients could use BCI-technology to control devices that help them with everyday tasks. This could be as simple as turning on appliances with voice commands or as elaborate as controlling an exoskeleton.

Stroke Recovery: Restoring Movement and Hope

Strokes are one of the leading causes of long-term disability around the world. After a stroke, many people lose the ability to move parts of their body. Rehab is hard and sometimes not enough. BCIs could offer a different and far more effective approach.

Current BCI Treatments for Stroke

Brain computer interfaces can help stroke patients by reading their thoughts about movement. When someone imagines moving their hand, the system picks up that brain signal. It then sends a message to either a computer screen or a muscle-stimulating device. This way, the brain and body begin working together again.

In one study, stroke patients used BCI to control a virtual arm while also getting light shocks to their real arm muscles. This helped the brain learn how to move again. Even better, patients kept improving months after the sessions ended.

Many of these systems also use virtual reality (VR) technology. VR helps make rehab more fun and engaging. Instead of staring at a wall, patients can play games or explore digital worlds with their minds. It keeps them motivated, and that matters.

Future BCI Treatments for Stroke

Scientists are also testing BCIs to help with other problems after stroke, like memory loss or depression. By providing more holistic treatment, these new tools may offer better recovery in the long run.

The Road Ahead: Ethical Innovation

BCI adds a uniquely empathetic twist to the typical use cases of AI.

That’s because brain-computer interfaces offer something rare in the tech world: human-first design. It’s one of few applications where developers are prioritizing connection, recovery, and dignity above the usual KPIs like convenience or speed.

You might be thinking:

Yes! I’m still warning you that this is a very likely outcome.

Nevertheless, for patients locked inside their own bodies, or slowly losing their sense of self, mind-reading tech may just open a door to recovery.

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About the Author

Tessina Grant Moloney is an AI ethics researcher investigating the socio-economic impact of AI and automation on marginalized groups. Previously, she helped train Google’s LLMs—like Magi and Gemini. Now, she works as our Content Product Manager at GenAI Works. Follow Tessina on LinkedIn!

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