World’s First Commercial Biological Computer Launched by Australian Startup

An Australian startup, Cortical Labs, has made a groundbreaking move by introducing the world’s first commercial biological computer, known as CL1. This innovative technology is a result of merging lab-grown neurons from human stem cells with hard silicon, aiming to pioneer a new form of artificial intelligence called Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI). Unlike traditional silicon-based AI, SBI boasts faster growth, adaptability, and learning capabilities while consuming significantly less energy. For instance, a 30-unit rack of CL1 operates on 850–1,000 watts of energy, contrasting with the substantial electricity demands of training models like GPT-3.

The launch of CL1 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona marks a significant milestone for Cortical Labs after six years of dedicated research, which included the development of “DishBrain” in 2022. DishBrain, a system comprising 800,000 brain cells trained to play Pong, demonstrated the feasibility of conditioning cultured cells through stimuli, rewards, and feedback to execute goal-oriented tasks. This achievement prompted critical discussions on the potential emergence of synthetic sentience and the ethical considerations surrounding cell cultivation for biological computing.

Hon Weng Chong, the CEO of Cortical Labs, envisions democratizing access to biological computers for researchers by eliminating the need for specialized hardware and software. The CL1 launch represents the initial phase of this vision, with plans to mass-produce CL1 units and racks for distribution by June. Additionally, the company offers Wetware-as-a-Service (WaaS), enabling remote utilization of biological computers for application development.

CL1’s operational mechanism involves cultivating cells on a silicon chip equipped with pins for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to and from the neural network. This setup establishes a high-bandwidth interface between organic and digital systems, facilitating seamless communication. Researchers at the University of Barcelona, in collaboration with Cortical Labs, will showcase the practical applications of CL1 outside laboratory settings at the Mobile World Congress.

Sandra Acosta, an assistant professor at the University of Barcelona leading the research, emphasizes the significance of CL1 in enabling controlled growth and monitoring of neurons in a laboratory environment. This advancement eliminates the need for risky and disruptive movements involved in traditional experiments, streamlining long-term research processes.

In conclusion, the introduction of the CL1 biological computer by Cortical Labs represents a pivotal moment in the realm of technological innovation. This breakthrough not only sets the stage for enhanced AI capabilities but also opens doors for collaborative research and application development in diverse fields. The fusion of biological and digital systems heralds a new era of computing, promising exciting possibilities for future advancements and discoveries.