Scientists have developed a "living computer"—a system featuring a colony of neurons on a silicon chip, priced at $35,000.
Traditional computers are based on silicon chips, which are well-suited for computational tasks. However, the human brain exhibits far greater elasticity and is adept at forming neural connections. This organic system effortlessly navigates millions of signals and determines the correct sequence of actions, a capability honed over millions of years of evolution. Furthermore, the brain demonstrates remarkable energy efficiency; it requires only 20 watts to accomplish tasks that silicon-based systems would need to draw up to 8 million watts for.
In the CL1 project, Australian company Cortical Labs has integrated two approaches. The silicon chip hosts nerve tissue containing modified cells from rodents and humans. Researchers manage this unusual structure via micro-current discharges. For instance, during a game of Pong—a simple game where players must position a paddle to hit a ball—the nerve tissue was rewarded for successful strikes and penalized for misses. As a result, the CL1 chip began forming robust neural connections, essentially learning on its own.
Researchers anticipate that biocomputers will serve as an excellent platform for training generative models, similar to modern chatbots, and will also be valuable for testing drugs for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and others. Cortical Labs plans to commence mass production of the CL1 in the latter half of 2025, maintaining a price point of $35,000. The developers expect the system to be highly economical in terms of energy consumption—1 kW per rack of 30 CL1s, significantly lower than that required by silicon computers.
Futurological Analysis: The Prospects of Nervous Tissue-based Biocomputers
Near Future (2025-2035)
With the launch of the CL1 biocomputer in 2025, we can expect substantial progress in computational technologies and research into brain activity. Initially, these systems will be utilized in scientific laboratories for testing new medications, particularly in neurodegenerative disease research. This will offer speed and precision in clinical trials, potentially accelerating the introduction of effective therapies to the market.
Alongside developments in medicine, biocomputers will gain attention in the creation of increasingly sophisticated and adaptive artificial intelligence models. More companies will adopt them as platforms for training and optimizing algorithms, endowing new systems with the ability to learn and adapt in real time. This evolution will result in more intuitive and human-like interfaces, transforming the ways humans interact with machines.
Distant Future (2040-2060)
Over time, biocomputers may extend beyond laboratories and integrate into daily life. Imagine "smart" homes governed by biocomputers capable of autonomously analyzing occupants' needs and adjusting their functions in response to environmental changes. They could efficiently manage resources, minimizing energy consumption while optimizing conditions for comfortable living.
In education, biocomputers might revolutionize the learning process by offering personalized modules tailored to each student's unique needs. They would be capable of analyzing learning styles and proposing the most effective strategies to achieve educational goals.
Additionally, such technologies could serve as the foundation for developing neurointerfaces that connect the human brain with technology. This would facilitate direct interaction between consciousness and digital systems, expanding the boundaries of human capabilities beyond traditional definitions of "humanity."
Social and Ethical Aspects
Nevertheless, the widespread adoption of biocomputers is set to raise crucial ethical questions. How will access to such technologies be regulated? What measures will guarantee data security and protection from manipulation? These discussions will be central to societal focus as biocomputers become integrated into social structures.
Thus, biocomputers like the CL1 hold the potential not only to reshape computational processes but also to transform society as a whole, heralding a new era in which biology and technology intertwine, paving the way for a unique future filled with possibilities and challenges.
