A molecular biologist from Yemen has an idea that may redefine how we see prisons. He has created a concept, Cognify, that intends to alleviate overcrowded prisons. Hashem Al Ghaili views this as an essential leap to revisit the prevailing concept and means of incarceration.
The concept revolves around replacing traditional prison sentences with AI-generated memories, which will be experienced in a virtual environment. Inmates will undergo specialized content generated by AI instead of being confined in physical spaces. This content will be converted to visual information and implanted in their brains. This information would then interact with parts of their DNA and RNA to create a lasting memory.
As of now, no technological means are available to make Cognify a reality; however, Hashem believes that this concept has the potential to become a reality. Experiments on animals, specifically mice, have shown promising results.
Implementing such a system would raise significant ethical questions. Al-Ghaili acknowledges these concerns, stating that Cognify could become a reality within the next decade “if we can overcome the ethical constraints that prevent testing such technology.”
Similar ideas have been explored via cinema. The Italian film False Memory (Ipersonnia) explores the concept of a hyperdream that distorts memories. In 2016, the Australian film Other Life (OtherLife) featured technology that allows prisoners to relive years of captivity within minutes in real time. Additionally, an episode of the 1995 American-Canadian series The Outer Limits portrays a character made to believe he has committed murder and spent his life in prison, only to awaken and condemn the punitive system he had previously defended.
Al-Ghaili has previously also come up with ambitious proposals. He previously presented a concept for body transplantation technology, which, like Cognify, remains a video presentation seeking investors and specialists.
While Cognify remains a theoretical idea, it has fueled conversations about the future of incarceration and the ethical boundaries of technology. If such innovations are to be realized, rigorous ethical considerations and advancements in neuroscience and biotechnology will be essential.
