“Tech Revolution: Check out the First Biological Computer with Human Neurons!”
In an announcement that could mark a before and after in computing, the Australian company Cortical Labs has introduced the CL1, the first commercial biological computer that uses human neurons to process information.
The device, launched at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, operates thanks to brain cells cultivated in a laboratory, integrated into a silicon chip. Through a biological intelligence operating system (biOS), these neurons can run code and perform computing tasks, opening the door to more efficient and adaptable computing.
Brett Kagan, chief scientist at Cortical Labs, describes the CL1 as “a body in a box,” highlighting its ability to learn and evolve in a similar way to a human brain.
### How does this biological computer work?
The CL1 combines with advanced biotechnology. Its neurons, which grow on a silicon substrate, can send and receive electrical impulses similar to how the human brain does.
To ensure the viability of these cells, the computer is equipped with a life support system that controls factors such as temperature and gas flow, ensuring its operation for up to six months.
One of the milestones leading up to this launch was an experiment in which a prototype composed of 800,000 human and mouse neurons learned to play the video game Pong, as published in the journal Cell. Not only did it learn, but it also showed signs of sensitivity in the simulated game environment.
### Benefits compared to traditional computers
The CL1 could overcome many limitations of current computers, offering key advantages:
– Greater learning and adaptation capacity, similar to the neuronal plasticity of the human brain.
– Lower energy consumption, making it more efficient than conventional processors.
– Ability to run code on a live neural network, which could revolutionize artificial intelligence.
However, this advancement has also raised ethical concerns, especially regarding the origin of the neurons used. Although the company claims to have implemented safeguards to prevent bioethical dilemmas, it has not detailed what these are.
### When will the CL1 be available?
The first models of the CL1 will be available for purchase in June, with an initial price of $35,000. While it is not the first bio-computer in history, it is the first to be marketed to the public.
### The beginning of a new era in computing?
The development of the CL1 falls within the field of neuromorphic computing, one of the strategies being explored to overcome the current limitations of silicon in computing.
Along with other emerging technologies, such as DNA-based biocomputing and photonic computing, this new generation of devices could completely transform the way data is processed and artificial intelligences are designed.
The CL1 represents the first step towards a more organic and efficient computing, but it also raises fundamental questions about the boundaries between biology and technology. As science continues to advance, the debate on the implications of these systems is just beginning.
