An Australian startup, Cortical Labs, has recently introduced the world’s first commercially available biological computer, known as CL1. This groundbreaking technology utilizes neurons grown from human stem cells, fused with hard silicon to form Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI). The primary objective of SBI is to enhance artificial intelligence capabilities by enabling faster learning and adaptation compared to traditional silicon-based AI systems. Moreover, SBI is significantly more energy-efficient, with a 30-unit rack of CL1 consuming only 850–1,000 watts, in stark contrast to the substantial electricity consumption of conventional AI models like GPT-3.
The development of CL1 represents the culmination of six years of intensive research at Cortical Labs, building upon previous milestones such as the “DishBrain” project in 2022. DishBrain, a system comprising 800,000 brain cells, demonstrated the feasibility of training lab-cultivated neurons to execute goal-oriented tasks through stimuli, rewards, and feedback mechanisms. This advancement sparked discussions within the scientific community regarding the potential emergence of synthetic sentience and raised ethical considerations surrounding the cultivation of cells for biological computing purposes.
Hon Weng Chong, the founder and CEO of Cortical Labs, envisions democratizing access to biological computing by eliminating the need for specialized hardware and software among researchers. The launch of CL1 marks a significant step towards achieving this vision, with plans to mass-produce and distribute CL1 units and racks by the end of June. Additionally, Cortical Labs is offering Wetware-as-a-Service (WaaS), enabling remote utilization of biological computers for application development.
CL1’s design involves cultivating cells on a silicon chip equipped with pins to facilitate bidirectional communication between the organic neural network and digital interfaces. This configuration establishes a high-bandwidth connection, enabling seamless interaction between the biological and technological components. The upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona will showcase a rack of CL1 computers, underscoring the potential for real-world applications beyond laboratory settings.
Sandra Acosta, an assistant professor at the University of Barcelona leading research efforts at MWC, emphasizes the transformative impact of CL1 on long-term experiments, enabling precise monitoring and modification of neuronal activity within a controlled environment. This innovation eliminates the need for disruptive procedures such as transferring neurons from incubators to microelectrode array (MEA) devices for data collection, streamlining research processes and enhancing experimental accuracy.
In conclusion, the introduction of the world’s first commercial biological computer by Cortical Labs marks a significant milestone in the realm of computer technology. The fusion of biological and silicon-based components in CL1 heralds a new era of AI innovation, with far-reaching implications for research, academia, and technological advancement. As researchers and innovators leverage this pioneering technology to drive further breakthroughs, the trajectory of computational intelligence is poised for remarkable transformation.
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