Chip Grade Over Seoul National University Diploma? The Scene at a 2050 Job Interview

In a hypothetical 2050 job interview, a candidate named Kim Cheol-su, a graduate of Seoul National University's mathematics department, faces questions not about his academic achievements but about his neural chip.

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Mr. Kim, your prefrontal cortex enhancement chip is the 'Neuralink N5' model. Its processing speed is 450bps. Your emotion filtering grade is A-3. Your endurance index is 92 points. However... your social empathy index is only 68 points. Have you not updated recently?

"Mr. Kim, your prefrontal cortex enhancement chip is the 'Neuralink N5' model. Its processing speed is 450bps. Your emotion filtering grade is A-3. Your endurance index is 92 points. However... your social empathy index is only 68 points. Have you not updated recently?" the interviewer asks, looking through smart glasses.

Cheol-su, a top scorer on the national college entrance exam, finds his prestigious university degree irrelevant. Instead, he is asked about his plans for future neural chip implants and whether he agrees to monetize his brain data. He recalls his parents' generation, who submitted resumes with grades and test scores, a seemingly primitive yet tangible way to prove oneself. Now, the chip manufacturer's logo dictates one's value.

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Now, the chip manufacturer's logo dictates one's value.

This vision, far from science fiction, stands at the precipice of reality. If current brain-computer interface (BCI) technology continues its trajectory, this could be the world inherited by future generations. As BCI, which directly connects the human brain to electronic devices, moves beyond medical labs into daily life and the labor market, humanity faces a novel form of inequality.

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This vision, far from science fiction, stands at the precipice of reality.

BCI technology, initially developed for medical purposes like assisting quadriplegic patients, is now making significant inroads into human life. While it offers the profound ability to restore voice to the voiceless and provide a connection to the world for those unable to move, its advancement also signals a shift. Technology that begins by addressing human frailty often evolves into an extension of human capabilities. Glasses, initially for correcting vision, now power augmented reality. Hearing aids amplify sound and integrate AI functions. Similarly, BCI, once a tool for medical necessity, is poised to redefine human potential and create new societal divisions based on neural enhancement.

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As BCI, which directly connects the human brain to electronic devices, moves beyond medical labs into daily life and the labor market, humanity faces a novel form of inequality.