Page 123 - AI Standards for Global Impact: From Governance to Action

AI Standards for Global Impact: From Governance to Action

20 Brain-computer interfaces

As a frontier intersection of neuroscience, AI, and engineering, Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)
technology is transforming human-machine interaction by enabling direct communication Part 3: Future AI
between the brain and external devices, bypassing peripheral nerves and muscles. This
breakthrough unlocks new possibilities across healthcare (e.g. restoring motor functions for
paralyzed patients via neural signal decoding), industrial control (e.g. brain-controlled drones
navigating complex terrains for emergency rescue), and daily life applications, while addressing
longstanding accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities.

The workshop gathered technology experts, policymakers, and business leaders to explore
BCI’s latest advancements, including notable progress in both invasive technologies (such
as long-term stable neural implants) and non-invasive solutions (like portable, user-friendly
electroencephalogram (EEG) headsets).

Discussions focused on key challenges that hinder widespread adoption, including:
• Technical bottlenecks in signal accuracy and stability (especially for non-invasive systems
in complex tasks).
• Ethical risks around neural data privacy and potential misuse.
• Fragmented technical standards that limit cross-border collaboration and scalability.

The goal was to identify actionable pathways for standardization, ethical governance frameworks,
and global cooperation, with the aim of ensuring that BCI technology develops in a way that is
safe, inclusive, and aligned with human-centric values to maximize its societal impact.

Presentations could be found at the BCI Workshop website.

20�1 Keynote address

ITU showcased BCI’s life-changing impact through case studies including a Portuguese locked-
in syndrome patient communicating via BCI and 5G, and a Brazilian patient controlling a car
with thought. Some of the key challenges highlighted were upgrading signal acquisition safety,
addressing EEG data scarcity, and strengthening ethical governance. ITU’s collaboration with
WHO on medical BCI guidelines was highlighted as a step towards global norms.

University of Bath and Fudan University provided an overview of BCI’s industrialization barriers,
noting the lack of a mature "basic research-clinical development-approval" pipeline compared
to pharmaceuticals. There are some success stories however, such as FDA/NMPA-approved
stroke rehabilitation devices covered by medical insurance, stressing that standardization (e.g.,
EEG recording guidelines) is critical for scaling.

China's Northwestern Polytechnical University presented breakthroughs in brain-controlled
systems, including an 86.5% success rate for drone swarms navigating obstacles via motor
imagery signals. Challenges outlined included non-invasive signal noise (accuracy <90% for
complex tasks), 300ms response delays, and individual EEG variability. Solutions included
multimodal data fusion and adaptive algorithms, with international partnerships driving open-
source platforms.

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