A development straight out of a science fiction movie: Australian startup Cortical Labs has released what it calls the world's first biological computer capable of developing code.
The CL1, which debuted in March, combines human brain cells on a silicon chip to process information through submillisecond-long electrical feedback loops.
Designed as a tool for neuroscience and biotechnology research, CL1 offers a new way to study how brain cells process and respond to stimuli.
Unlike conventional silicon-based computing systems, the hybrid platform uses living human neurons capable of adapting, learning, and responding to external commands in real time.
“In one sense, the CL1 could be considered the first commercially available biomimetic computer, with ultimate neuromorphic computing using real neurons,” he says theoretical neuroscientist Karl Friston of University College London.
"However, the real gift of this technology is not for computer science. Instead, it is a technology that will allow scientists to perform experiments on a small synthetic brain."
The first 115 units will begin shipping this summer at a price of $35.000 each or $20.000 when purchased in a 30-unit server rack.
Cortical Labs also offers a “wetware-as-a-service” from the cloud at a price of $300 per week per unit, unlocking remote access to its in-house cell cultures.
Each CL1 contains 800.000 human neurons grown in the lab, from skin or blood samples from real adult donors.
The cells remain viable for up to six months, powered by a life-support system that delivers nutrients, controls temperature, filters waste and maintains fluid balance. Meanwhile, neurons fire and interpret signals from every interaction.
The compact energy and material footprint of CL1 could make it attractive for extensive experiments.
A rack of CL1 units consumes 850-1.000 watts, significantly lower than the tens of kilowatts required by a data center installation running AI workloads.
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