Feb 11 • 13:00 UTC 🇪🇪 Estonia Postimees

Russian startup hacks pigeons' brains and makes them controllable robots

A Russian startup has successfully implanted neuro-interfaces in pigeons, allowing them to be guided like drones.

A Russian startup, Neiry, has announced the successful completion of test flights using pigeons with implanted neuro-interfaces, blurring the lines between living organisms and robots. This innovation raises questions about our readiness for a future where nature could be controlled in unprecedented ways. Historically, pigeons have served as faithful messengers, and Neiry aims to elevate this relationship by transforming birds into literal 'hacked' living drones.

The company claims that the interface delivers 'mild stimuli' to the pigeon's brain, enabling their flight paths to be guided rather than controlled like puppets. This implies that the birds are encouraged to prefer certain trajectories, which presents intriguing ethical implications regarding the manipulation of living beings for human purposes. The development functions more like an enhancement of natural behavior rather than outright control, prompting discussions about the potential of bioengineering in modern technology.

As this technology evolves, it prompts profound ethical questions regarding animal rights and the extent to which technology should manipulate wildlife. It's a stark reminder of how rapidly advancements in artificial intelligence and biotechnology can create scenarios that challenge our values and ethical boundaries as humans intersect with nature in increasingly sophisticated ways.

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