Swedish scientists have produced the world’s first living computer made from human brain tissue.
Consisting of 16 brain cell clusters grown in a laboratory environment, the cells provide information communication between each other.
Working much like a traditional computer chip, the new computer acts as circuits that send and receive signals through neurons. But what makes the new technology special is that it uses less energy, because living neurons use millions of times less energy than existing digital processors.
Scientists have revealed that tasks that require our brain to consume between 10 and 20 watts of energy use 21 megawatts of energy in today’s computers. This shows that they consume a thousand times more energy than the human brain.
TRAINING WITH DOPAMINE
Mini brains, approximately 0.5 mm in diameter and consisting of 10 thousand living neurons, are trained with doses of dopamine. When they perform tasks correctly, they receive a stream of chemicals as a reward.
Scientists stimulate certain areas by exposing them to light to mimic dopamine release. The organoids are surrounded by eight electrodes and can measure activity.
A TURNING POINT FOR TECHNOLOGY
This breakthrough blurs the lines between biology and technology, opening up new possibilities in computing and neuroscience.
While ethical considerations are many, the living computer marks an important milestone in the field of technology.
This technology challenges our perceptions of what is possible and raises profound questions about the future of artificial intelligence and humanity’s relationship with technology.