There is a precise moment in which technology stops being a tool and becomes an entity capable of reshaping humanity itself. Cognify, the virtual prison proposal that is sparking discussion around the world, could represent just that point of no return.
Criminals sitting in high-tech capsules, artificial memories implanted in their brains, real-time manipulation of neurotransmitters and hormones to induce guilt, remorse, empathy. No, this is not Black Mirror. Studies on mice have already shown that memories can be implanted, modified, transformed from negative to positive. The question is no longer “if”, but “when”, and above all: “do we really have to do this”?
The prison that enters the head
The name itself, Cognify, sounds almost like a harmless app to improve memory; instead it hides a disturbing concept: technological capsules where prisoners are connected to a system that “injects” artificial experiences directly into their brains. It makes me shiver to think that a violent offender could be forced to “experience” the crime he committed from the victim’s perspective. Or that a drug dealer could “experience” simulations of addiction and recovery.
The idea came to Hashem Al-Ghaili, filmmaker and science communicator from Berlin, who presents it as a necessary revolution to overcome the limits of the current penitentiary system: overcrowding, ineffective rehabilitation, exorbitant costs. With a Cognify prison, he argues, the inmates would not rot in their cells but would leave prison after a few minutes, still with their whole lives ahead of them, and totally redeemed. In short, they would follow “a more effective path toward reform and social reintegration.” An elegant solution, if it were not for the small detail of violated mental integrity.
Science, he also recalls, has already demonstrated that it is possible to implant false memories, and transform fearful memories into positive ones. In 2018, researchers have managed to transfer a memory from one sea snail to another. With the future evolution of AI tools such as Sora di OpenAI, creating hyper-realistic simulations will become increasingly possible.
Scanned Brains and Artificial Memories
How does this dystopian system work? First, a high-resolution scan maps the convict’s brain, identifying the areas where Cognify will “inject” artificial memories. Then, a headset feeds personalized experiences into the prison inmate’s mind, creating lifelike experiences that range from remorse to personal growth.
In the meantime (and here the issue arising from Al-Ghaili's provocation becomes even more murky) the prisoner's brain data would be sent to a "central computer for scientific research", presumably to better understand the "criminal mind" and determine the best approach to tackle future crimes. A sort of neural data mining, in conclusion.
The Ethics of Erasing and Rewriting
The ethical questions are explosive. Can anyone really consent to the implantation of artificial memories? How can we ensure that this will not cause permanent trauma? Al-Ghaili himself admits:
There are concerns about consent, privacy, and potential unintended psychological consequences of altering memories. Implanting artificial memories also raises questions about the authenticity of the self.
And then, how does a person re-adapt to reality after having lived years of experiences in a few minutes? Cognify suggests that “the subject’s family members could be given a full report on the new artificial memories,” but the psychological gap would still be abysmal.
Even if the technology worked perfectly, it would take years of extensive testing to ensure it didn’t cause irreparable damage. And the fundamental question remains: do we really want a justice that literally rewrites minds?
