A Constructive, Christian, Ethical Response to Brain–Computer Interfaces like Neuralink’s and AI

Advances in AI and Brain–Computer Interfaces (BCIs) like Neuralink’s invite constructive Christian ethical responses that capitalize on these increasingly powerful technologies. This paper offers such a response. Its thought experiment partly draws on Immanuel Kant’s work Religion Within the Boundaries of Mere Reason in which he argues that the Son of God is the prototype of the perfectly good person and, as such, serves as the ideal model for anyone seeking to lead a moral life. Working within this Kantian framework, the anticipated capabilities of BCIs and AI could assist humans make moral progress and support their efforts to imitate the Son of God. These two technologies, coupled with a computer science approach to AI ethics known as Conditional Preference Networks, or CP-nets, offer a path forward. A case study in which a medical doctor with access to only one donor kidney must choose between two patients illustrates how BCIs and AI can help.