Friends, forget the CPUs, GPU and other TPUs because here is the NBU for neural biological unit. Australian society Cortical Labs has indeed been marketing the first computer in the world operating with real human brain cells cultivated in the laboratory. Really a thing straight out of Rick and Morty, but without the glass jar filled with fluorescent green turmoil.
Sold $ 35,000, this computer called the CL1 Impression as much as it terrifies since it operates by placing cultivated neurons (from blood cells or skin transformed into stem cells) on a network of 59 electrodes, then these cells are kept alive in a “vital support” unit including pumps, filtration, supply reservoirs and gas mixture. The whole is thus managed by a “Biological intelligence system”(Bios – Mooot game!) & Mldr; And its primary use is obviously AI.
And this is not their first try since in 2022, these little geniuses had already been talked about by teaching a network of 800,000 human neurons and murine to play in Pong. But now they go up a gear with a commercial product that can operate up to 6 months without interruption.
Because compared to a traditional AI, this system is presented as more energy efficient (850-1000W for a whole rack), learning more quickly and offering a more “natural” and adaptable form of intelligence. The secret is that unlike our current AIs which simulate neural networks, the CL1 uses the fruit of 4 billion years of evolution directly: hey, these real neurons are naturally self-organizing and it is crazy!
In terms of concrete applications, this opens fascinating perspectives: discovery of personalized drugs, ultra-precise clinical tests, modeling of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s or epilepsy. CEO Hon Weng Chong even explains that they could “Potentially cultivate neurons of patients with dementia or epilepsy and test compounds and drugs which would then be personalized and adapted to this patient”. It is also a potential ethical alternative to animal tests, and much more effective since we work directly with human cells.
It is also a great tool for doing research on intelligence and learning. Cortical Labs also works on a concept they call the “Viable minimum brain”Namely the minimal number and the optimal configuration of neurons necessary to create a functional intelligence. Their Brett Kagan CSO explains: “We almost consider it a form of life different from animals or humans.”I don’t know you, but it vaguely reminds me of the start of Skynet & Mldr; BREEEEF.
And it is not the only biological approach to AI that makes waves since last year, a team from the Reading University published an article describing how they had learned to an ionic electroactive hydrogel, a piece of jelly what, also to play in Pong.
The most creepy is that the researchers were convinced that they could improve their capacities & MLDR; By making him feel pain. Ouch & mldr;
Now ethically, even if it is still too early technically, we can already ask the question of the consciousness of neural networks. Such a computer could ultimately, as I explained in this articledevelop a very real consciousness. But can we then realize it? And when will we have to grant him union rights for the exploitation of neurons in a confined environment? I have to ask the CGT.
So different computer or life form?
I don’t know, but Cortical Labs already offers its technology in the form of a service of “Wetware-as-a-service”(Waas) allowing everyone to access this organic computer via the cloud. I almost want to rent one to see if I can teach him to write my articles while I take it sweet.
In any case, it promises! We will soon be able to entrust our important tasks to a piece of brain cultivated in the laboratory which has a moment, will develop a conscience and will require a salary. I can’t wait (or not)!
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