NXS-GRX · XT-19 · Exponential technology series
Neurotechnology and human augmentation
Neurotechnology and augmentation: safety, privacy, equity and governance risks.
Page GRX-SER-XT-19Edition Baseline Edition 2026Evidence close 2026-09-30Subject NXS-GRX proposedNexus Reports XT-19 (planned)Values not yet publishedSnapshot 31a753f76
FIG 1 · Series at a glance
Domain indices
3
Health security risk · Governance weakness · Technology concentration risk
Indicators
90
3 index domains
Hazard families
37
Frontier and exponential technology · Health and biosecurity
Methods
73
Cyber, AI and frontier technology · Policy, regulation and governance
3
domain indices
90
indicators in scope
2
hazard domains
3
client groups
01Scope
Scope and questions
The subject of this index is proposed by NXS-GRX (canonical data, provenance and risk); the Nexus Reports edition with the same code sets its own subject at commissioning, and any difference is recorded as a crosswalk.
- Where is neurotechnology entering use?
- What privacy and safety protections exist?
- Which equity risks emerge?
02Construction
Domain indices to the series index
The series index is the expert-weighted geometric mean of its domain indices, with the intervals and class rule of the methodology.
computation
How the Neurotechnology and human augmentation index is builtGraph
01Domain indices
02Series index
03Readings
100%
List
- Health security riskDomain index · IDX · HLTINFORM-style aggregation, on 0 to 10, of epidemic and AMR hazard, disease burden and undernutrition against health-system and IHR capacity, each component oriented by its own polarity.
- Governance weaknessDomain index · IDX · GOVWeighted aggregation, on 0 to 10, of governance quality, rule of law, policy and institutional quality and statistical capacity, each oriented by its own polarity so that higher values mean weaker governance.
- Technology concentration riskDomain index · IDX · TECIndex of technology dependence, critical-mineral dependence and, inverted, innovation capacity and biosecurity oversight, on a 0-10 scale, higher meaning riskier.
- Neurotechnology and human augmentation indexSeries index · SERIES · XT-19Neurotechnology and augmentation: safety, privacy, equity and governance risks.
- Country readingsOutput · OUTPUT · 195 profilesPublished with intervals and classes when the edition is released.
- Regional readingsOutput · OUTPUT · 5 regionsPublished with intervals and classes when the edition is released.
- Global readingOutput · OUTPUT · population or exposure weightedPublished with intervals and classes when the edition is released.
Not runIn progressDone
03Indices
Domain indices in this series
NXS-GRX · XT-19 · 195 profiles · 0–10 scale
Neurotechnology and human augmentation index, world
—
Values publish with the edition; the interval, class and change appear here.
| Index | Value | Change | Change % | 90% interval | Class · probability | Trend | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health security riskNXS-GRX · HLT | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Governance weaknessNXS-GRX · GOV | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Technology concentration riskNXS-GRX · TEC | — | — | — | — | — |
Domains read: Technology and frontier, Health, Governance and institutions.
04Indicators
90 indicators in scope
Every indicator whose primary or secondary domain is in scope, with unit, levels and crosswalks to source code lists.
FIG 3 · Indicators in scope, by domain and sub-domain
| Indicator | Domain | Sub-domain | Component | Unit | Levels | Crosswalks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIC-DSF composite indicator score (published, reference)IND.FIS.capacity.lic_dsf_composite_indicator | FIS | Debt-carrying capacity | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | |
| Net import reliance for critical mineralsIND.ECO.concentration.critical_minerals_import_reliance | ECO | Export and import concentration | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | |
| Economic readiness for adaptation investmentIND.CLI.adaptation.economic_readiness | CLI | Adaptation readiness | adaptive capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | ND_GAIN economic |
| Governance readiness for adaptationIND.CLI.adaptation.governance_readiness | CLI | Adaptation readiness | adaptive capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | ND_GAIN governance |
| Days of dangerous humid heat per yearIND.HAZ.heat.dangerous_heat_days | HAZ | Extreme heat | hazard | d/a | COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY, GRID | UNDRR_HIPS_2025 MH0501 |
| Heatwave exposure events per personIND.HAZ.heat.heatwave_person_days | HAZ | Extreme heat | exposure | d/a | COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY | |
| Population exposed to extreme heat, shareIND.HAZ.heat.heat_population_exposed.share | HAZ | Extreme heat | exposure | % | COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY | |
| PM2.5 exposure, population-weighted meanIND.ENV.air.pm25_exposure | ENV | Air quality | hazard | ug/m3 | COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY, GRID | WB_WDI EN.ATM.PM25.MC.M3 SDG 11.6.2 EPI PMD |
| Population exposed above the WHO PM2.5 guideline, shareIND.ENV.air.pm25_guideline_exceedance.share | ENV | Air quality | exposure | % | COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY | WB_WDI EN.ATM.PM25.MC.ZS |
| Seasonal peak ozone exposureIND.ENV.air.ozone_exposure | ENV | Air quality | hazard | [ppb] | COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY, GRID | |
| Population using safely managed drinking waterIND.WAT.access.safely_managed_drinking_water.share | WAT | Drinking water and sanitation | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY | SDG 6.1.1 WB_WDI SH.H2O.SMDW.ZS EPI UWD |
| Population using at least basic drinking waterIND.WAT.access.basic_drinking_water.share | WAT | Drinking water and sanitation | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY, ADM1 | WB_WDI SH.H2O.BASW.ZS |
| Population using safely managed sanitationIND.WAT.access.safely_managed_sanitation.share | WAT | Drinking water and sanitation | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY | WB_WDI SH.STA.SMSS.ZS SDG 6.2.1 EPI USD |
| Population with basic hand-washing facilitiesIND.WAT.access.basic_handwashing.share | WAT | Drinking water and sanitation | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY, ADM1 | WB_WDI SH.STA.HYGN.ZS SDG 6.2.1 |
| Dependency ratio on external renewable waterIND.WAT.dependence.external_water_dependency | WAT | Transboundary dependence | exposure | % | COUNTRY | |
| Transboundary basin area with operational cooperationIND.WAT.dependence.transboundary_cooperation.share | WAT | Transboundary dependence | coping capacity | % | COUNTRY | SDG 6.5.2 |
| Under-five mortality rateIND.HLT.burden.under5_mortality | HLT | Disease burden and mortality | vulnerability | /10*3 | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.DYN.MORT SDG 3.2.1 WHO_GHO MDG_0000000007 |
| Neonatal mortality rateIND.HLT.burden.neonatal_mortality | HLT | Disease burden and mortality | vulnerability | /10*3 | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.DYN.NMRT SDG 3.2.2 |
| Maternal mortality ratioIND.HLT.burden.maternal_mortality | HLT | Disease burden and mortality | vulnerability | /10*5 | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.STA.MMRT SDG 3.1.1 WHO_GHO MDG_0000000026 |
| Life expectancy at birthIND.HLT.burden.life_expectancy | HLT | Disease burden and mortality | vulnerability | a | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SP.DYN.LE00.IN WHO_GHO WHOSIS_000001 |
| Premature mortality from major non-communicable diseasesIND.HLT.burden.ncd_premature_mortality | HLT | Disease burden and mortality | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.DYN.NCOM.ZS SDG 3.4.1 WHO_GHO NCDMORT3070 |
| Tuberculosis incidenceIND.HLT.burden.tb_incidence | HLT | Disease burden and mortality | hazard | /10*5 | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.TBS.INCD SDG 3.3.2 WHO_GHO MDG_0000000020 |
| Malaria incidenceIND.HLT.burden.malaria_incidence | HLT | Disease burden and mortality | hazard | /10*3 | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.MLR.INCD.P3 SDG 3.3.3 WHO_GHO SDGMALARIA |
| HIV incidenceIND.HLT.burden.hiv_incidence | HLT | Disease burden and mortality | hazard | /10*3 | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.HIV.INCD.TL.P3 SDG 3.3.1 WHO_GHO SDGHIV WB_WDI SH.HIV.INCD.ZS |
| Medical doctors per 1,000 populationIND.HLT.system.physician_density | HLT | Health system capacity | coping capacity | /10*3 | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.MED.PHYS.ZS WHO_GHO HWF_0001 SDG 3.c.1 |
| Nurses and midwives per 1,000 populationIND.HLT.system.nurse_midwife_density | HLT | Health system capacity | coping capacity | /10*3 | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.MED.NUMW.P3 WHO_GHO HWF_0006 SDG 3.c.1 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 populationIND.HLT.system.hospital_beds | HLT | Health system capacity | coping capacity | /10*3 | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.MED.BEDS.ZS WHO_GHO WHS6_102 |
| UHC service coverage indexIND.HLT.system.uhc_service_coverage | HLT | Health system capacity | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | SDG 3.8.1 WHO_GHO UHC_INDEX_REPORTED WB_WDI SH.UHC.SRVS.CV.XD |
| Population with catastrophic out-of-pocket health spendingIND.HLT.system.catastrophic_oop | HLT | Health system capacity | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | SDG 3.8.2 WB_WDI SH.UHC.OOPC.10.ZS |
| Out-of-pocket spending, share of current health expenditureIND.HLT.system.oop_share | HLT | Health system capacity | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.XPD.OOPC.CH.ZS WHO_GHO GHED_OOPSCHE_SHA2011 |
| Current health expenditure, share of GDPIND.HLT.system.health_expenditure.gdp | HLT | Health system capacity | coping capacity | % | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS |
| DTP3 immunisation coverageIND.HLT.system.dtp3_coverage | HLT | Health system capacity | coping capacity | % | COUNTRY | WHO_GHO WHS4_100 WB_WDI SH.IMM.IDPT SDG 3.b.1 |
| Second-dose measles immunisation coverageIND.HLT.system.mcv2_coverage | HLT | Health system capacity | coping capacity | % | COUNTRY | WHO_GHO MCV2 WB_WDI SH.IMM.MEA2 SDG 3.b.1 |
| Births attended by skilled health personnelIND.HLT.system.skilled_birth_attendance | HLT | Health system capacity | coping capacity | % | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.STA.BRTC.ZS SDG 3.1.2 |
| Travel time to the nearest health facilityIND.HLT.system.health_facility_travel_time | HLT | Health system capacity | vulnerability | min | COUNTRY, ADM1, ADM2, CITY, GRID | |
| IHR core capacity score (SPAR)IND.HLT.security.spar_capacity | HLT | Health security (IHR) | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | SDG 3.d.1 WHO_GHO SDGIHR2021 WHO_GHO SDGIHR2018 |
| IHR laboratory capacity (SPAR C4)IND.HLT.security.spar_laboratory | HLT | Health security (IHR) | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | SPAR C4 WHO_GHO IHRSPAR2_C04 JEE D1 |
| IHR surveillance capacity (SPAR C5)IND.HLT.security.spar_surveillance | HLT | Health security (IHR) | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | SPAR C5 WHO_GHO IHRSPAR2_C05 JEE D2 |
| IHR health emergency management capacity (SPAR C7)IND.HLT.security.spar_emergency_management | HLT | Health security (IHR) | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | SPAR C7 WHO_GHO IHRSPAR2_C07 JEE R1 |
| IHR risk communication capacity (SPAR C10)IND.HLT.security.spar_risk_communication | HLT | Health security (IHR) | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | SPAR C10 WHO_GHO IHRSPAR2_C10 JEE R5 |
| Epidemic event frequencyIND.HLT.epidemic.outbreak_event_frequency | HLT | Epidemic and outbreak | hazard | 1 | COUNTRY, ADM1 | |
| Reported cholera cases, per 100,000 populationIND.HLT.epidemic.cholera_cases.p100k | HLT | Epidemic and outbreak | hazard | /10*5 | COUNTRY | WHO_GHO CHOLERA_0000000001 |
| Bloodstream infections due to MRSAIND.HLT.amr.mrsa_bloodstream | HLT | Antimicrobial resistance | hazard | % | COUNTRY | WHO_GHO AMR_INFECT_MRSA SDG 3.d.2 |
| Bloodstream infections due to E. coli resistant to third-generation cephalosporinsIND.HLT.amr.ecoli_3gc_bloodstream | HLT | Antimicrobial resistance | hazard | % | COUNTRY | WHO_GHO AMR_INFECT_ECOLI SDG 3.d.2 |
| Stunting among children under fiveIND.HLT.nutrition.stunting | HLT | Nutrition | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.STA.STNT.ME.ZS SDG 2.2.1 WHO_GHO NUTSTUNTINGPREV FAO_FAOSTAT 21025 |
| Wasting among children under fiveIND.HLT.nutrition.wasting | HLT | Nutrition | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY, ADM1 | WB_WDI SH.STA.WAST.ZS SDG 2.2.2 WHO_GHO NUTRITION_WH_2 FAO_FAOSTAT 21026 |
| Anaemia among women of reproductive ageIND.HLT.nutrition.anaemia_women | HLT | Nutrition | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SH.ANM.ALLW.ZS WHO_GHO NUTRITION_ANAEMIA_REPRODUCTIVEAGE_PREV SDG 2.2.3 FAO_FAOSTAT 21043 |
| Seats held by women in national parliamentIND.SOC.gender.women_in_parliament | SOC | Gender | adaptive capacity | % | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SG.GEN.PARL.ZS SDG 5.5.1 |
| Population aged 65 and over, share of totalIND.DEM.structure.share_65plus | DEM | Age structure | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS |
| Attacks on health careIND.CON.civilian.attacks_on_health_care | CON | Civilian harm | impact | 1 | COUNTRY | |
| Voice and accountability (WGI)IND.GOV.quality.voice_accountability | GOV | Governance quality | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WGI GOV_WGI_VA.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_VA.EST |
| Political stability and absence of violence (WGI)IND.GOV.quality.political_stability | GOV | Governance quality | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WGI GOV_WGI_PV.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_PV.EST |
| Government effectiveness (WGI)IND.GOV.quality.government_effectiveness | GOV | Governance quality | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WGI GOV_WGI_GE.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_GE.EST |
| Control of corruption (WGI)IND.GOV.quality.control_of_corruption | GOV | Governance quality | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WGI GOV_WGI_CC.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_CC.EST |
| Corruption Perceptions Index (Transparency International)IND.GOV.quality.corruption_perceptions | GOV | Governance quality | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | |
| Press freedom score (RSF)IND.GOV.quality.press_freedom | GOV | Governance quality | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | |
| Rule of law (WGI)IND.GOV.rule_of_law.rule_of_law | GOV | Rule of law | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WGI GOV_WGI_RL.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_RL.EST |
| Property rights and rule-based governance (CPIA)IND.GOV.rule_of_law.property_rights | GOV | Rule of law | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WDI IQ.CPA.PROP.XQ |
| Unsentenced detainees, share of prison populationIND.GOV.rule_of_law.unsentenced_detainees | GOV | Rule of law | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | SDG 16.3.2 |
| Bribery incidence among firmsIND.GOV.rule_of_law.bribery_incidence_firms | GOV | Rule of law | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | WB_WDI IC.FRM.BRIB.ZS SDG 16.5.2 |
| Regulatory quality (WGI)IND.GOV.policy.regulatory_quality | GOV | Policy and institutional quality | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WGI GOV_WGI_RQ.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_RQ.EST |
| CPIA overall rating (IDA resource allocation index)IND.GOV.policy.cpia_overall | GOV | Policy and institutional quality | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WDI IQ.CPA.IRAI.XQ |
| CPIA public-sector management and institutionsIND.GOV.policy.cpia_public_sector_management | GOV | Policy and institutional quality | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WDI IQ.CPA.PUBS.XQ |
| CPIA transparency, accountability and corruption in the public sectorIND.GOV.policy.cpia_transparency | GOV | Policy and institutional quality | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WDI IQ.CPA.TRAN.XQ |
| Efficiency of revenue mobilisation (CPIA)IND.GOV.policy.tax_administration | GOV | Policy and institutional quality | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WDI IQ.CPA.REVN.XQ |
| Deviation of budget execution from the approved budgetIND.GOV.policy.budget_execution_deviation | GOV | Policy and institutional quality | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | SDG 16.6.1 |
| Statistical Performance Indicators overall scoreIND.GOV.statistics.spi_overall | GOV | Statistical capacity | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | WB_WDI IQ.SPI.OVRL WB_WDI IQ.SCI.OVRL |
| Completeness of birth registrationIND.GOV.statistics.birth_registration | GOV | Statistical capacity | coping capacity | % | COUNTRY | WB_WDI SP.REG.BRTH.ZS SDG 16.9.1 |
| Years since the last population censusIND.GOV.statistics.years_since_census | GOV | Statistical capacity | vulnerability | a | COUNTRY | SDG 17.19.2 |
| Business environment score (B-READY)IND.GOV.business.bready_overall | GOV | Business environment | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | |
| Population relying primarily on clean cooking fuels and technologiesIND.ENE.access.clean_cooking | ENE | Access | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY, ADM1 | SDG 7.1.2 WB_WDI EG.CFT.ACCS.ZS |
| Critical-mineral import supplier concentrationIND.ENE.minerals.critical_mineral_import_concentration | ENE | Critical minerals | vulnerability | 1 | COUNTRY | |
| Critical facilities with 72-hour back-up powerIND.INF.utilities.critical_facility_backup_power | INF | Utilities | coping capacity | % | COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY | ISO_37123 ISO 37123:2019 |
| Lifeline facilities in high-hazard zones, shareIND.INF.utilities.lifeline_facilities_exposed.share | INF | Utilities | exposure | % | COUNTRY, ADM1, ADM2, CITY, GRID | |
| Health facilities damaged or destroyed by disastersIND.INF.disruption.health_facilities_damaged | INF | Service disruption | impact | 1 | COUNTRY, ADM1 | SENDAI D-2 |
| ITU GCI legal measures pillarIND.CYB.capability.gci_legal | CYB | Cyber capability | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | ITU_GCI Legal Measures |
| ITU GCI organizational measures pillarIND.CYB.capability.gci_organizational | CYB | Cyber capability | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | ITU_GCI Organizational Measures |
| Data protection and privacy legislation in forceIND.CYB.capability.data_protection_law | CYB | Cyber capability | coping capacity | {bool} | COUNTRY | ITU_GCI Legal Measures |
| E-government developmentIND.CYB.dependence.egovernment_development | CYB | Digital dependence | exposure | {score} | COUNTRY | |
| Gross domestic expenditure on R&D, share of GDPIND.TEC.capability.rd_expenditure.gdp | TEC | Technology capability | adaptive capacity | % | COUNTRY | SDG 9.5.1 WB_WDI GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS |
| Researchers per million inhabitantsIND.TEC.capability.researchers_per_million | TEC | Technology capability | adaptive capacity | /10*6 | COUNTRY | SDG 9.5.2 WB_WDI SP.POP.SCIE.RD.P6 |
| High-technology exports, share of manufactured exportsIND.TEC.capability.high_tech_exports | TEC | Technology capability | adaptive capacity | % | COUNTRY | WB_WDI TX.VAL.TECH.MF.ZS SDG 9.b.1 |
| Semiconductor import supplier concentrationIND.TEC.concentration.semiconductor_import_concentration | TEC | Concentration and dependence | vulnerability | 1 | COUNTRY | |
| Cloud infrastructure provider concentrationIND.TEC.concentration.cloud_provider_concentration | TEC | Concentration and dependence | vulnerability | 1 | COUNTRY | |
| AI compute capacity under foreign or single-provider controlIND.TEC.ai.ai_compute_foreign_control | TEC | Artificial intelligence | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | |
| Foundation-model provider concentrationIND.TEC.ai.foundation_model_concentration | TEC | Artificial intelligence | vulnerability | % | COUNTRY | |
| Biosafety and biosecurity oversight of high-containment laboratoriesIND.TEC.bio.biosecurity_lab_oversight | TEC | Biotechnology | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | |
| National DRR strategy aligned with the Sendai FrameworkIND.CRS.drr.national_drr_strategy | CRS | DRR strategy | coping capacity | {score} | COUNTRY | SENDAI E-1 SDG 1.5.3 SDG 11.b.1 SDG 13.1.2 |
| Local governments with DRR strategies aligned to the national strategyIND.CRS.drr.local_drr_strategies | CRS | DRR strategy | coping capacity | % | COUNTRY, ADM1 | SENDAI E-2 SDG 1.5.4 SDG 11.b.2 SDG 13.1.3 |
| Population within 15 minutes of emergency servicesIND.CRS.response.emergency_service_access | CRS | Response capacity | coping capacity | % | COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY | ISO_37120 ISO 37120:2018 |
05Hazards
Hazard families this series reads
families, each crosswalked to the UNDRR–ISC Hazard Information Profiles (2025) where a profile exists.
FIG 4 · Hazard families this series reads
| Family | Domain | Hazards | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI system failure and misalignment | Frontier and exponential technology | AI malfunction in a critical service, Out-of-distribution model failure, Correlated failure of shared AI models, Reliance on fabricated AI output, Specification gaming and reward hacking, Deceptive or strategically misaligned AI, Loss of human control over advanced AI, AI self-replication and exfiltration … | 11 |
| AI security and model supply chain | Frontier and exponential technology | Theft of frontier model weights, Backdoored AI model, AI model supply-chain compromise, Prompt injection against AI agents, AI-enabled cyber offence, Attack on AI compute infrastructure, Adversarial manipulation of machine learning | 7 |
| AI misuse and capability uplift | Frontier and exponential technology | AI uplift for biological weapons, AI uplift for chemical weapons, Synthetic media at scale, Non-consensual synthetic intimate imagery, AI-driven mass persuasion, AI-enabled mass surveillance and repression, AI-enabled seizure or entrenchment of power, Malicious use of AI | 8 |
| Agentic AI acting at scale | Frontier and exponential technology | Runaway autonomous agent action, Multi-agent interaction cascade, Algorithmic market flash crash, Human deskilling and over-reliance on AI, Gradual human disempowerment by AI, Autonomous agent overreach | 6 |
| Algorithmic decision and structural harm | Frontier and exponential technology | Harmful automated decision-making, Clinical AI error, Rapid AI-driven labour displacement, Concentration of frontier AI capability, Competitive AI race and safety erosion, Degradation of the shared knowledge base, Recommender-system amplification harm, Harm from AI companions and chatbots … | 12 |
| Robotics, autonomy and autonomous weapons | Frontier and exponential technology | Lethal autonomous weapon use, Drone swarm attack, Weaponised small drone attack, Drone intrusion into protected airspace, AI-accelerated military escalation, AI in nuclear command, control and warning, Industrial and service robot injury, Autonomous vehicle system failure … | 10 |
| Biotechnology and synthetic biology | Frontier and exponential technology | Engineered pandemic pathogen, Dual-use research of concern, Benchtop DNA synthesis misuse, Biological design tool misuse, Automated biofoundry accident, Gene drive escape, Engineered organism escape into the environment, Mirror-image organism creation or release … | 10 |
| Nanotechnology and advanced materials | Frontier and exponential technology | Engineered nanomaterial exposure, High-aspect-ratio nanofibre inhalation, Nanomaterial accumulation in the environment, Uncontrolled self-replicating nanomachines, Molecular manufacturing arms race | 5 |
| Neurotechnology, human enhancement and extended reality | Frontier and exponential technology | Brain-computer interface failure, Neural device compromise, Neural data exploitation, Cognitive enhancement harm and coercion, Heritable human genome editing harm, Extended-reality physical and psychological harm, Manipulation of augmented perception | 7 |
| Quantum technology and cryptographic transition | Frontier and exponential technology | Cryptographically relevant quantum computer, Harvest-now, decrypt-later collection, Post-quantum migration failure, Quantum sensing erosion of strategic concealment | 4 |
| Climate intervention technologies | Frontier and exponential technology | Solar geoengineering termination shock, Stratospheric aerosol injection side effects, Marine cloud brightening side effects, Unilateral or rogue geoengineering deployment, Ocean fertilisation side effects, Ocean alkalinity enhancement side effects, Large-scale carbon removal land and water competition, Geological carbon storage leakage … | 11 |
| Space technology and orbital infrastructure | Frontier and exponential technology | Destructive anti-satellite strike, Non-kinetic counterspace attack, Mega-constellation orbital congestion, Constellation-wide service failure, Upper-atmosphere pollution from launches and re-entries, Satellite interference with sky observation, Back-contamination from extraterrestrial samples | 7 |
| Digital infrastructure concentration and monoculture | Frontier and exponential technology | Critical open-source dependency failure, Advanced semiconductor fabrication concentration, Digital identity and trust service failure | 3 |
| Advanced and distributed manufacturing | Frontier and exponential technology | 3D-printed and untraceable firearms, Distributed production of weapon components, Additively manufactured critical part failure | 3 |
| Energy-transition technology failures | Frontier and exponential technology | Lithium battery fire in vehicles and transport, Mass manipulation of connected energy devices, Advanced reactor material security risk, Critical mineral supply concentration | 4 |
| Distributed ledgers and digital assets | Frontier and exponential technology | Smart-contract and oracle exploit | 1 |
| Airborne and respiratory infection | Health and biosecurity | Respiratory pandemic, Seasonal influenza epidemic, Zoonotic influenza spillover, Coronavirus outbreak, Tuberculosis surge, Bacterial meningitis outbreak | 6 |
| Vaccine-preventable outbreaks | Health and biosecurity | Measles outbreak, Polio outbreak, Diphtheria and whooping cough outbreak, Other vaccine-preventable outbreak | 4 |
| Faecal-oral and foodborne infection | Health and biosecurity | Cholera outbreak, Typhoid and paratyphoid fever, Shigellosis and dysentery outbreak, Viral diarrhoea outbreak, Faecal-oral hepatitis outbreak, Foodborne illness outbreak, Waterborne disease outbreak | 7 |
| Vector-borne infection | Health and biosecurity | Dengue epidemic, Chikungunya and Zika outbreak, Yellow fever outbreak, West Nile and Culex-borne virus outbreak, Malaria resurgence, Plague outbreak, Trypanosomiasis outbreak, Tick-borne disease surge … | 10 |
| Haemorrhagic fever | Health and biosecurity | Ebola and Marburg outbreak, Lassa fever outbreak, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever outbreak | 3 |
| Blood-borne and sexually transmitted infection | Health and biosecurity | HIV epidemic, Chronic viral hepatitis B and C burden, Sexually transmitted infection resurgence | 3 |
| Animal-to-human spillover | Health and biosecurity | Zoonotic spillover event, Anthrax outbreak, Brucellosis outbreak, Rabies outbreak, Leptospirosis outbreak, Mpox outbreak, Rift Valley fever outbreak, Nipah and henipavirus outbreak | 8 |
| Rare and persistent human infections | Health and biosecurity | Prion disease cluster, Smallpox reintroduction | 2 |
| Livestock and aquaculture epizootics | Health and biosecurity | Swine fever epizootic, Foot-and-mouth epizootic, Ruminant respiratory epizootic, Vector-borne livestock disease, Poultry epizootic, Screwworm infestation, Aquaculture disease outbreak, Livestock disease outbreak | 8 |
| Plant disease and pests | Health and biosecurity | Bacterial and fungal crop disease, Plant virus epidemic, Crop insect pest outbreak, Locust swarm, Invasive species spread | 5 |
| Systemic biological risks | Health and biosecurity | Antimicrobial resistance, Deliberate or accidental biological-agent release | 2 |
| Environmental and product harm to people | Health and biosecurity | Snakebite envenoming, Substandard and falsified medicines, Adulterated alcohol poisoning, Overdose epidemic | 4 |
| Climate-sensitive illness | Health and biosecurity | Heat-related illness surge, Cold-related illness surge, Disease vector range expansion, Aeroallergen season intensification, Warm-water bacterial infection | 5 |
| Drug and insecticide resistance by pathogen class | Health and biosecurity | Multidrug-resistant bacterial infection spread, Antiviral drug resistance, Antimalarial and antiparasitic drug resistance, Antifungal drug resistance, Insecticide resistance in disease vectors, Antimicrobial development and supply failure | 6 |
| Emerging and unknown infection threats | Health and biosecurity | Unknown future pathogen emergence, Emerging fungal pathogen, Endemic fungal disease range expansion, Healthcare-associated infection outbreak, Undiagnosed illness cluster | 5 |
| Maternal, newborn and child health emergencies | Health and biosecurity | Maternal mortality rise, Newborn mortality surge, Preterm and low birthweight birth rise, Childhood immunisation coverage collapse, Infant feeding disruption, Reproductive health service disruption | 6 |
| Mental health crises | Health and biosecurity | Population mental distress surge, Post-disaster traumatic stress, Suicide rate rise, Youth mental health crisis, Climate-related psychological distress, Social isolation and loneliness epidemic, Mass psychogenic illness outbreak, Gambling harm surge | 8 |
| Noncommunicable disease surges | Health and biosecurity | Cardiovascular disease surge, Diabetes epidemic, Obesity epidemic, Cancer burden rise, Chronic respiratory disease burden, Chronic kidney disease surge, Dementia burden growth, Post-infection chronic illness … | 11 |
| Malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency | Health and biosecurity | Acute malnutrition surge, Chronic undernutrition and stunting, Micronutrient deficiency, Nutritional deficiency disease outbreak, Unhealthy diet transition, Crop nutrient decline | 6 |
| Occupational disease and injury | Health and biosecurity | Occupational lung disease, Occupational heat strain, Occupational cancer, Occupational chemical poisoning, Workplace injury burden, Work-related psychosocial harm | 6 |
| Health system capacity failure | Health and biosecurity | Health workforce shortage, Health worker industrial action, Health financing collapse, Catastrophic out-of-pocket health spending, Vaccine confidence collapse, Essential health service disruption, Disease surveillance failure, Health facility loss of function … | 9 |
06Methods
Method libraries
Each method has a reference implementation or declares the specialist model, data or adapter it still needs; none is promoted beyond its evidence.
56 methods
Cyber, AI and frontier technology
Cyber Attack Surface · Exploitability · Threat Likelihood · Cyber Asset Criticality · Intrusion Propagation · Ransomware Risk · Identity Compromise …
17 methods
Policy, regulation and governance
Scenario Counterfactual · Regulatory Change Risk · Policy Uncertainty · Policy Effectiveness · Implementation Gap · Regulatory Exposure · Compliance Obligation Mapping …
07Users
Who uses it
Governments and national risk agencies
Prioritise prevention and preparedness; Plan with subnational layers; Track Sendai targets; Co-develop a national index
Regulators, supervisors and central banks
Design supervisory scenarios; Read systemic coupling; Replicate methods
Universities and research
Replicate every value; Study methods; Contribute data and review
08Reports
Nexus Reports
- Edition code
XT-19- Edition status
- planned
- Subject
- Set by Nexus Reports at commissioning
09Cite
Cite and reuse
GCRI Canada (2026). The Global Risks Index (NXS-GRX): Neurotechnology and human augmentation series (GRX-SER-XT-19), Baseline Edition 2026. Preparatory working draft. https://risksindex.com/series/xt-19/ UNI NXS-GRX-AR-000106.
- Series key
grix:SER.XT-19:{ISO3}:{YEAR}:A- Domain keys
nis:IDX.HLT.security.health_security_risk:{ISO3}:{YEAR}:Anis:IDX.GOV.quality.governance_weakness:{ISO3}:{YEAR}:Anis:IDX.TEC.concentration.technology_concentration_risk:{ISO3}:{YEAR}:A
Every country reads this series
Each country profile carries the domain indices this series is built from.
Status
The methodology, structure and definitions of The Global Risks Index are a preparatory working draft (2026), circulated for review and comment and not for implementation. No value appears until an edition is released from a governed evidence cut; values then carry intervals, classes, sources and their correction pathway. Simulators run the published methods on numbers you choose and never show a NXS-GRX value.
What NXS-GRX is not
NXS-GRX is research and risk-analytics information. It is not a credit or ESG rating and uses no rating scale, not a benchmark for financial instruments, not official statistics, not an emergency warning or official classification, and not advice. It must not be used to evaluate natural persons. Risk classes are bands on a published scale, never rankings of countries or people.
Institutions and sources
The Nexus Consortium is stewarded by three independent not-for-profit institutions: GCRI Canada as Lead Institution, Consortium Secretariat and lead contracting organization, The Global Risks Forum (GRF) and The Global Risks Alliance (GRA). Technology, infrastructure and service providers work with the Consortium at arm's length under written agreements, like every other external party in the public-private-planet model, and hold no role in its stewardship.
Every value carries the attribution of its sources, which keep their own licences. External names are cited for interoperability only. Nexus-authored text is intended for CC BY 4.0 on release.
Avis en français
La méthodologie et les définitions du NXS-GRX sont un projet de travail préparatoire (2026). Le NXS-GRX est une information de recherche et d'analyse des risques : ni notation, ni indice de référence financier, ni statistique officielle, ni alerte, ni conseil. Les classes de risque sont des bandes sur une échelle publiée, non des classements.