Professor Deblina Sarkar, AT&T Career Development Chair Professor and director of the Nano-Cybernetic Biotrek group, delivered a featured keynote at the United Nations AI for Good Global Summit 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, presenting a new vision for the future of neurotechnology and responsible human-AI convergence.
In her Frontier Stage keynote, “Brain AI²: Beyond Intelligence Through Surgery-Free Nano-Implants,” Sarkar introduced the concept of Brain AI², describing a future in which biological and artificial intelligence converge through a new generation of surgery-free nano-bioelectronic implants developed by her lab. Current neurotechnologies rely either on invasive implants that require risky surgery or non-invasive approaches that lack precision. To overcome these challenges, her lab has developed wireless, subcellular-sized nanoelectronics — a billion times smaller than a grain of rice — capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier after injection, enabling precise neuromodulation without surgery. The technology has been demonstrated in preclinical animal studies.
Sarkar discussed how this approach could make advanced neurotechnologies more accessible by eliminating barriers associated with surgical implantation. She also explored the long-term potential for distributed neural interfaces to work alongside biological neural circuits, while emphasizing the importance of advancing neurotechnology in ways that remain ethical, equitable, and centered on human agency.
She also participated in the summit’s Brain-Computer Interface Workshop and Panel, joining researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and healthcare experts in discussions about the future of AI, neurotechnology, and healthcare.
Organized by the United Nations, the AI for Good Global Summit brings together global leaders from government, academia, industry, and international organizations to explore how artificial intelligence can address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.