By Dr. Marie Gould Harper
Program Director, Management
I never thought that I would be alive to see this development, but “human microchipping” has become real in parts of the world. What’s going on?
Microchipping Appearing in European Countries
The practice of microchipping is not new in Europe. In 2015, Epicenter – a high-tech business incubator in Stockholm, Sweden – started to implant chips into consenting employees. Designed by Swedish biohacking group BioNyfiken, the chip is the size of a grain of rice and emits radio waves. A professional tattoo artist inserts the chip into an employee’s hand in the area between the thumb and index finger.
Today, Epicenter has about 150 employees with the chip. Epicenter even has microchip implant parties for employees willing to go through the process.
Epicenter is not alone in its use of microchips. There are reports that a Belgium employer is offering the procedure to its employees. Also, there are isolated cases around the world of technology enthusiasts attempting to insert the chips.
Patrick Mesterton, co-founder and CEO of Epicenter, believes the biggest benefit of the implantation is convenience. Epicenter’s microchip eliminates the need for other communication devices, such as key cards, employee badges and credit cards. The “microchippers” can open doors, operate company equipment and buy smoothies with the wave of a hand. The microchip is being hailed as a way to make employees more efficient by removing the need for multiple devices in the workplace.
Microchipping Process Becomes Part of ‘Augmented Humanity’
Faith Popcorn, author of “Dictionary of the Future,” coined the microchipping process as “augmented humanity.” As she told the New York Daily News, “We foresee a future in which everyone will have an implanted chip that will benefit our personal lives as well.”
What is augmented humanity? Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, first coined the phrase in 2010. He defined it as “the use of technology to both aid, and replace, human capability in a way that joins person and machine as one.”
This month, South African entrepreneur Elon Musk announced that he plans to start a new venture, Neuralink. The company aims to merge the human brain with computers.
During an April 2017 interview with Inc., Musk shared how he believes there are many ideas running around in the human brain, which attempts to compress this information into speech or typing. With the increase in our society’s collaboration between knowledge management and information technology, our brains can get overloaded by attempting to process information with our human capacities.
Musk hopes that implanting small brain electrodes in humans will relieve brain conditions that stem from medical issues. These issues include strokes and cancerous lesions.
Convenience of Microchipping versus Its Potential for Privacy Invasion
Is microchipping good or bad? It depends to whom you are speaking.
Microchipping supporters believe this practice is the wave of the future and expect more companies and countries to jump on the bandwagon. They believe the workplace is the initial setting for the practice and see the chips trickling into our personal lives. For example, the chip could be used for riding public transportation, paying groceries or working out.
In addition, the implant procedure reportedly is biologically safe. It is said to pose no health risks to employees who choose to get the chip.
However, opponents of microchipping see the chip as an invasion of privacy and a violation of individual rights. There could be security issues because the device tracks everything you do in your personal and work life. Users can’t separate what the chip tracks.
Ben Libberton, a microbiologist at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute, says hackers could retrieve vast amounts of information from microchips. Ethical dilemmas will become greater as microchips become more sophisticated and more widely used.
If employers start collecting this type of information, there will be questions that require answers, such as:
- What happens to the information?
- Who uses the information?
- What is the purpose of collecting the information?
What Is the Future of Microchipping?
Some researchers believe that a growing reliance on artificial intelligence will be our downfall. We already use similar technology as virtual collar ID tags for pets and tracking of package deliveries.
But have we gone too far in our use of technology? Are “real” Terminators in our future? Do we need a resistance movement or will all attempts be futile?
Pending regulatory approval, Musk is hoping his new venture will be ready within the next eight to 10 years. He says his technology will be designed to ensure that artificial intelligence does not surpass the human brain.
For me, it comes down to my beliefs about implants and my feelings about a cyborg society. I, personally, do not seek to put anything in my body that is not required.
Also, I remember the moral of the story in the Terminator series and the role of the Borg on Star Trek. I do not want to be one of those naïve people taken over by a robot nation. Let’s hope that Elon Musk is on to something better.
About the Author
Dr. Marie Gould Harper is the Program Director of Management. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from Wellesley College, a master’s degree in instructional systems from Pennsylvania State University and a doctorate in business from Capella University. She is a progressive coach, facilitator, writer, strategist and human resources/organizational development professional with more than 30 years of leadership, project management and administrative experience. Dr. Gould Harper has worked in both corporate and academic environments.
Dr. Gould Harper is an innovative thinker and strong leader, manifesting people skills, a methodical approach to problems, organizational vision and an ability to inspire followers. She is committed to continuous improvement in organizational effectiveness and human capital development, customer service and the development of future leaders.
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