A growing number of scientists around the world are exploring the use of lab-grown brain cells for advanced computing.
They say biocomputers powered by human tissue could learn more efficiently, use less energy, and adapt better than traditional AI.
Lab-grown brain cells in robotics and AI bring up ethical and practical concerns. A key drawback is the uncertainty of brain organoids developing consciousness over time. The likelihood of this occurring remains speculative, and today’s lab grown brain models are considered too simple to achieve any form of awareness.
MetaBOC
The Chinese researchers who developed the brain-on-chip technology, called MetaBOC, let Shanghai Eye in its lab to capture this footage.
The technology could superpower AI, create smarter robots, and lead to breakthroughs in brain disease treatments. Researchers from Tianjin University and Southern University of Science and Technology say their tiny lab-grown brain, or brain organoid, could learn tasks faster than current AI models.
They say it uses much less energy than AI, which needs a lot of power and data to learn. These brain cells also show more intuition and creativity than AI, learning with fewer examples.
The researchers believe this technology could combine human-like and machine intelligence. This would mean robots and other machines could think and learn more like humans.
The goal is to create smarter robots that learn and adapt on their own.
FinalSpark
Swiss startup FinalSpark is offering biocomputers made from human brain cells, or organoids, for rent at $500 a month.
These biocomputers are up to 100,000 times more efficient than traditional silicon-based hardware and could accelerate AI development by mimicking human brain learning processes.
Universities can rent access to four organoids, with some projects receiving free access. FinalSpark also offers dedicated organoids for industrial applications.
DishBrain
Australian startup Cortical Labs is developing a so-called DishBrain.
The system integrates brain cells grown in a dish with electronics to control simple tasks and play games like Pong. The company says the biocomputer system can work alongside traditional AI models for improved learning.
Real brain cells learn tasks faster and consume less energy than current AI models. The brain cells in the DishBrain could be trained to control robotic arms or other devices.
Robots with brain cells could learn and adapt better, making them more useful in hospitals and factories. Since brain cells use less power, DishBrain could help develop low-energy computers for things like smart devices or sensors.
Scientists could use the technology to better understand diseases like Alzheimer’s by testing how brain cells react to different conditions.
Brainoware
At Indiana University, researchers are growing tiny, three-dimensional brain models from human stem cells. They call the technology Brainoware .
They’ve demonstrated voice recognition capabilities. The Brainoware system was trained with 240 audio clips of different speakers. The audio was converted into electrical signals and sent to the brain organoid chip.
After just two days of training the system accurately distinguished between eight speakers 78% of the time from just a vowel sound. The brain models connect to computers via tiny electrodes.
They use a gentle method called low-intensity focused ultrasound to stimulate the brain models, helping them grow into complex networks of brain cells.
By forming complex networks, these brain models might help robots learn and adapt better to new situations, like humans do.