Philosophy of the Internet of Bodies

 Philosophy of the Internet of Bodies

BodyInternet.com

May 24, 2026

I'm sure that when the automobile was invented there were some who feared and warned of the dangers attached to the revolutionary machine. As it turns out, they were right: somewhere between 60 and 80 million people have died in automobile accidents worldwide since it was invented. Obviously that did not stop the revolution, and here we are today where cars and even 18-wheeler trucks can drive themselves.  Today, we are still on the cusp of the AI revolution and hardly a day passes in which the topic is major news. It's both an exciting and dreaded technological revolution, but either way it can't be stopped. Some are rushing to put in place legal limitations and rules, and no one is sure how far AI will go. But in line after the AI sea change is the next drop of the coin: the Internet of Bodies, or IoB. The name may change and for a shortened version of the current term we can use Body Internet. This transformation is still too far off for most people to be concerned or notice. Some have heard of it but until it really takes off - like the smart phone did - it won't attract a lot of attention. Speaking of the smart phone, Body Internet is the technology in line to replace them.  First, there will be external body to machine connections. Researchers at Purdue University have already developed trial versions of Body Internet. To simplify their research - the human body is primarily water, and water can be used to conduct electricity or energy. They have developed a system under which a human can touch a device and cause or get a reaction. If two humans are holding hands, the second person can also feel the connection. But the end goal of the real next level Internet is no external devices needed to communicate or control the Internet. The ultimate goal is tiny little brain chips or other implants under the skin. People will control the Internet with their thoughts. This research is already being tested on physically impaired individuals who can send thoughts to a device and be able to move limbs or other actions. 

My focus is on the philosophical angle: if the Internet is coupled with the brain, who owns the thoughts and actions of the human using the technology? Could there be an Internet caste system under which only the very wealthy can afford the best technology? How protected will be your original thoughts and ideas?  And the subject of other pages on this site: how safe will you be? Today we deal with the sophisticated tactics of bad actors using spam and email and phone phishing tricks to steal money from people who fall prey to the tricks. The bad actor tactics are getting better with AI and have spread to audio and video deep fakes that seem as real as the persons they are portraying. 

Even though real progress in Body Internet is likely 5 to 7 years away, that's not a lot of time in the real world of developing safety barriers, protections for people who could become the target of bad actors. Also, the legal and philosophical foundation for Body Internet needs to move in tandem with the development and rollout of the technology. I look forward to expanding this and other papers on the subject of Body Internet and the human side of the equation. - Preston Brady III.

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