Who is responsible if a brain-controlled robot drops a baby? Neuroethics: Neurotech experts call for new measures to ensure brain-controlled devices are beneficial and safe

Accountability, responsibility, privacy and security are all key when considering ethical dimensions of this emerging field. If a semi-autonomous robot did not have a reliable control or override mechanism, a person might be considered negligent if they used it to pick up a baby, but not for other less risky activities. The authors propose that any semi-autonomous system should include a form of veto control -- an emergency stop -- to help overcome some of the inherent weaknesses of direct brain-machine interaction. Professor John Donoghue, Director of the Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering in Geneva, Switzerland said: "Although we still don't fully understand how the brain works, we are moving closer to being able to reliably decode certain brain signals. We shouldn't be complacent about what this could mean for society. We must carefully consider the consequences of living alongside semi-intelligent brain-controlled machines and we should be ready with mechanisms to ensure their safe and ethical use." "We don't want to overstate the risks nor build false hope for those who could benefit from neurotechnology. Our aim is to ensure that appropriate legislation keeps pace with this rapidly progressing field."