Franken-PC debuts in Melbourne with a price tag of $35,000 and promises outstanding performance.
The technology enables interaction with real neurons that have been grown on a silicon chip.
Cortical Labs has developed the first biological computer ready for implementation, priced at $35,000. This innovative CL1 combines living neurons with silicon to perform real-time calculations. The next step in its evolution is to build a biological neural network server.
Despite remarkable advancements in recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) still falls short compared to human intelligence. While it can process large volumes of data and generate responses quickly, it lacks genuine understanding and reasoning. Even with improvements, the problem of "hallucinations" —where AI generates incorrect information— persists.
Two years ago, researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Australia, along with scientists from Cortical Labs in Melbourne, proposed that organoids, or computers built with human brain cells, could be key to a more realistic artificial intelligence. Now, Cortical Labs has brought this theory to life by producing the world’s first commercial biological computer.
The CL1, which will be custom-built and available for online purchase, is a Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI). This device features an architecture in which neurons are cultivated in a nutrient-rich solution, allowing them to grow on a silicon chip that sends and receives electrical impulses.
The reality in which these neurons exist is created by the Biological Intelligence Operating System (biOS) of Cortical Labs, which simulates an environment and sends information directly to the neurons. As they react, their impulses affect the simulated world. The company states, "We integrate these neurons into the biOS, combining hard silicon with soft tissue, allowing for a direct connection to the neurons."
By deploying code directly onto living neurons, Cortical Labs claims that the CL1 can tackle some of today’s most complex challenges. According to their assertions, "the neuron is self-programmable, infinitely flexible, and the result of four billion years of evolution. What digital AI models try to emulate with huge resources, we start with."
Cortical Labs' founder and CEO, Dr. Hon Weng Chong, expressed that this advancement is the culmination of nearly six years of work. "Our long-term goal has been to democratize this technology, making it accessible to researchers who do not have specialized hardware and software. The CL1 is the realization of that mission," he remarked. While this announcement is exciting, its true impact will depend on how researchers and innovators utilize it.
Additionally, it has been reported that Cortical Labs is building a "groundbreaking biological neural network server," which will house 30 separate units, each with cells in its electrode array. This system is expected to be operational in the coming months, with plans for commercial availability via the cloud by late 2025.
In terms of pricing, the CL1 is surprisingly affordable. Each unit is estimated to cost around $35,000, significantly lower than other similar technologies that hover around $85,000. For context, Apple's Lisa, considered its "best failure," sold for $9,995 in 1983, which is equivalent to about $32,500 today. While it is uncertain whether the CL1 will have as significant an impact as the Lisa on the future of computing, its success will depend on its scalability and how it integrates into existing AI and computing systems.
