Controversial AI prison tech sees inmates serving out sentences in just minutes

A controversial new idea using AI to manipulate memory would see criminals serve their prison sentences in a matter of minutes - without the need to ever enter a jail cell.

The bizarre new concept is known as The Cognify method and would see offenders, who would otherwise be headed to prison, instead be hooked up to a high-tech machine that implants artificial memories directly into their brains. Inside their heads, time would pass differently from normal and much slower than in the real, outside world, meaning they would experience years worth of artificial memories in just minutes.

The memories they would be given would be different, tailored individually depending on the seriousness of their crime, the severity of their punishment and their rehabilitation needs. The vivid, life-like memories are created in real-time using AI-generated content.

Man hooked up to high-tech, sci-fi looking machine around his head and chest

Dubai-based project lead Hashem Al-Ghaili, a biotechnologist and science communicator came up with the idea. He explained that artificial intelligence would create content in real-time that would be perceived by the criminals as vivid and life-like memories: "Once the target brain regions are identified, Cognify is then placed around the head of the prisoner. The intensity and the type of artificial memories are then adjusted depending on the crime.

"Synthetic memories are customised depending on the crime committed and the unique brain structure and psychological profile of the individual. The artificial memories implanted by the Cognify would be seamlessly incorporated into the existing neural networks of the brain, preventing cognitive dissonance and ensuring the subject experiences the memories as if they were real."

A concept image showing a blue holographic brain hooked up to silver head gear

Before being subjected to this fast-track method, which is reminiscent of a sci-fi movie, potential prisoners would be given the choice to go ahead with it or instead face a standard prison sentence for their crimes. Covering a wide range of crimes, including domestic violence, hate crimes, discrimination, embezzlement, insider trading, theft, and fraud, the memory-implantation device could have the potential to be used on a range of offenders.

Picture of Hashem Al-Ghaili

Hashem Al-Ghaili says: "Violent offenders could experience memories that are designed to trigger empathy and remorse, seeing their crime from the perspective of their victim and feeling their pain and suffering first-hand. Some memories are designed to trigger consequences and trauma, simulating the long-term consequences of violent actions, such as the grief of the victim's family or the physical and emotional trauma endured by the victim."

After 'therapy', the subject is then released back into society to hopefully begin a new, crime-free chapter of their lives. The method, Al-Ghaili hopes, could increase the efficiency of the criminal justice system and help solve overcrowding in prisons. He said: "The Cognify concept could revolutionise the criminal justice system by significantly reducing the need for long-term incarceration and its associated costs. By rehabilitating offenders more quickly, Cognify could enable them to reintegrate into society sooner and contribute to the workforce."