World’s First Biological Computer Uses Human Brain Cells for AI | Image Source: www.yankodesign.com
BARCELONA, Spain, 07 March 2025 – The world of artificial intelligence is at a turning point. Forget about GPUs and energy-efficient data centers – the next AI border could be biological. At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, Australian startup Cortical Labs unveiled CL1, the world’s first commercial biological computer, powered by real human brain cells. This revolutionary machine defies everything we know about computing, offering a look at a future where intelligence is not simply artificial, it is organic.
What difference does CL1 make?
Unlike traditional AI, based on mass data sets and gross computing force, CL1 takes a radically different approach. It integrates human neurons into silicon hardware, creating a hybrid system that treats information like a living brain. These neurons not only store data, but actively form connections, turn to themselves and learn dynamically. This adaptability allows CL1 to solve problems in such a way that conventional AIs simply cannot.
How does it work?
At the heart of the CL1 is a technology called Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI). Laboratory neurons sit in an electrode matrix, receive electrical signals and react by strengthening or weakening their connections, such as neurons in a human brain. According to Cortical Labs, this biological computer model allows real-time learning, eliminating the need for massive computer power. In practical terms, CL1 is more like training a dog than programming a robot, neurons realize things for themselves.
Applications in science and medicine
One of the most promising applications of CL1 is medical research. Traditional AI models struggle to reproduce the complexity of the human brain, but CL1 offers a more realistic alternative. Researchers can use it to test drug reactions in live neurons, potentially accelerated treatments for neurological diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson. As Hon Weng Chong said, the CEO of Cortical Labs, CL1 could become an essential tool for understanding knowledge at a fundamental level.
Energy efficiency: An important advantage
Modern AI models consume a lot of energy. For example, the formation of a large language model like GPT-4 requires thousands of continuously operating GPUs, consuming megawatts of power. On the other hand, CL1 works with considerable efficiency. A complete LC1 server rack uses as much power as a high-end game PC. This breakthrough could make AI development much more sustainable, thereby reducing the environmental impact of AI research and deployment.
Ethical concerns: Do these neurons think?
The breaking of the boundary between biology and technology raises difficult questions. The CL1 neurons ”think”? Could they develop a certain form of consciousness? According to Cortical Labs Scientific Director Brett Kagan, the answer is not, at least not yet. The neural networks within the CL1 are highly specialized in information processing, not conscious thinking. However, as this technology evolves, ethical discussions on its implications are likely to intensify.
Impact on robotics and AI
Beyond medicine, CL1 has the potential to transform robotics and autonomous systems. The traditional AI fights with unpredictable environments, relying on static drive data. An AI biological system like CL1 could be adapted to fly, learning from direct interaction rather than pre-programmed rules. Imagine a driving car that not only follows a set of instructions, but also intuitively learns to navigate in new situations. This is the kind of intelligence CL1 could allow.
Availability and future prospects
CL1 is not only a prototype, it is a commercial product. Cortical Labs makes it available via a cloud-based platform, allowing researchers to access SBI technology remotely. Each unit costs approximately $35,000, much cheaper than similar biotechnology research tools that can exceed $80,000. The long-term goal is to make the SBI a common technology accessible to scientists, engineers and AI developers around the world.
With the launch of CL1, AI took a step beyond digital. For the first time, intelligence is not simulated, but cultivated. Where these leads are still visible, but one thing is clear: the future of computer science has become much more human.
