From Russia With Dove: Pigeons Get Brain Implants
Russian biotechnology firm Neiry announced it is putting brain implants in pigeons in order to remotely direct the birds’ flight paths. The new tech will be used for environmental monitoring – and probably spying.
The pigeons carry a tiny backpack containing a “stimulator” that delivers impulses to the birdbrain via implanted neural interfaces. A remote operator can then upload flight tasks to the controller and guide the fliers’ navigation from afar as necessary.
Why not just use regular drones? Neiry says pigeons can fly longer and farther than standard drones. The company says the biodrones will have many applications: monitoring of power transmission lines and other infrastructure, environmental surveys, search-and-rescue missions, and “additional security monitoring,” which sounds a lot like spying. Neiry has not disclosed a specific price for the biodrone but claims it will be comparable to conventional drones, with “hundreds of times” their range and endurance.
The Moscow Times questions the practicality and the ethics of the tech, arguing on Instagram that birds, unlike drones, are vulnerable to infection and require food and rest. There’s also a concern that pigeon zombies in the wild will not help the reputation of a species that doesn’t get a lot of respect from the public as it is.
The CIA has used pigeons (and other animals) for surveillance for decades. While much of these programs remain classified, the agency touts the technology on its website: “Why pigeons? They were perfect because they are such common birds. Who would ever think a pigeon was actually a secret spy-bird taking photographs for the CIA?”
Neiry has bigger plans for brain implants. “Invasive neurointerfaces connected to AI will one day become indispensable assistants for humans,” says Neiry Group founder Alexander Panov. “We believe they will first be used in the most responsible professions — such as pilots and astronauts. This means we need to begin testing these technologies right now.”
Photo credit: Neiry
