A Melbourne-based biotechnology start-up has unveiled the world’s first commercial biological computer, integrating human brain cells into a functioning system that could revolutionize artificial intelligence research.
Cortical Labs, the company behind the innovation, launched the device—called CL1—at an international technology conference in Barcelona, promising access to a new form of biological AI that learns using real neurons.
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While researchers are excited about its potential, others caution that the technology is still in its infancy and raises important ethical questions.
A breakthrough in ‘wetware’ computing
The CL1 system contains hundreds of thousands of lab-grown human neurons, housed in a specialized chip that allows them to interact with digital inputs. Scientists at Cortical Labs describe it as a hybrid system, combining biological and digital computing.
“We’re looking to harness these cells for intelligence,” said Dr. Brett Kagan, the company’s chief science officer. “There are so many possibilities—disease modeling, drug testing, and new forms of AI.”
The neurons inside CL1 can process information and learn from feedback, similar to how biological brains function. In 2022, the company demonstrated the potential of this approach by teaching a dish of neurons to play the classic game Pong.
While CL1 is still in its early stages, Cortical Labs is offering it as a cloud-based system, dubbed “Wetware-as-a-Service”, allowing companies and researchers to experiment with its capabilities remotely.
Could biological AI rival traditional artificial intelligence?
Unlike traditional AI models—such as those developed by Google and OpenAI—which rely on immense computing power, CL1 consumes only a few watts of energy.
“Current AI requires massive data centers, but biological neurons are incredibly power-efficient,” Dr. Kagan explained. “They also learn much faster than artificial neural networks.”
Despite the promise of biological computing, scientists emphasize that CL1 is not general artificial intelligence.
“This is not a thinking machine,” said Professor Ernst Wolvetang, a University of Queensland biologist who is collaborating with Cortical Labs. “The system is remarkable in how quickly it learns, but it’s nowhere near the complexity of a human brain.”
Ethical concerns over living neurons in computers
As biological computing advances, ethical questions surrounding the treatment of living neurons are coming into focus.
Dr. Silvia Velasco, a stem cell researcher at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, emphasized the importance of monitoring developments in the field.
“We need to ensure that, as these networks grow more complex, they don’t develop unintended cognitive abilities,” she said.
Cortical Labs insists that consciousness is not a concern with CL1, as the neurons are isolated and lack the intricate connections of a full brain.
Still, the debate over the future of biological computing is just beginning, with researchers, ethicists, and regulators closely watching how this technology evolves.
For now, CL1 represents a bold step into the world of biological AI, opening doors to new discoveries—but also new challenges.
