An Australian company, Cortical Labs, has recently unveiled a groundbreaking computer powered by lab-grown human brain cells, according to a report by Gizmodo. The computer, known as CL1, is being touted as the world’s first “code deployable biological computer” and is available for pre-order at a price point around $35,000. For those who prefer not to purchase their own device, the company also offers “Wetware-as-a-Service,” allowing users to rent bio-computer processing power via the cloud.
CL1 is comprised of lab-grown neurons connected to 59 electrodes on a glass-and-metal electrode array, forming a stable neural network. The system is housed in a life support unit that sustains the neurons by mimicking the body’s organ functions. This includes functions such as heart pumping, kidney-like waste filtration, and gas mixing of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen.
Cortical Labs has developed a Biological Intelligence Operating System (biOS) to provide sensory input to the neurons, allowing them to interact with software in real time. The company showcased the technology by teaching the system to play Pong, demonstrating the potential of biological computers to rival or surpass digital AI systems in understanding intelligence mechanisms.
According to Brett Kagan, Cortical Labs’ Chief Scientific Officer, a network of 120 CL1 devices could offer valuable insights into how genes and proteins impact learning. The technology also holds promise for drug development and disease modeling by simulating neurological processes at the molecular level.
This innovative development originally appeared on our sister publication PC för Alla and has been translated and localized from Swedish.