Lab-Grown Computers: The Future of Technology Development
In the realm of technological innovation, a new era is dawning as researchers and startups alike are exploring the integration of living cells into electronic devices. This groundbreaking development could revolutionise the way we perceive and utilise computers.
At the forefront of this movement is Retro Biosciences, a company dedicated to developing neural circuits using human cells. Meanwhile, Cortical Labs has taken a different approach, creating Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI), a system that embeds human neurons into silicon chips.
Over in Texas, Rice University's research team, led by biosciences professor Matthew Bennett, is delving into the potential of microbial systems as information processors. The team is investigating how bacteria transmit signals, both chemical and electrical, and how these signals might be decoded into usable information. The vision isn't just to build a new kind of computer; it's to rethink what computers are, potentially leading to systems that react to chemical signals in real time.
Swiss startup Final Spark has also joined the fray, introducing Neuroplatform. This hybrid system connects lab-grown brain organoids to electronic circuits, allowing for dynamic, self-modifying behaviour. The Neuroplatform system enables lab-grown brain organoids to interact with digital programs through electric pulses.
The benefits of these living computers are far-reaching. For instance, such systems could function as biosensors for pollutants, pathogens, or neurological markers, offering environmental responsiveness beyond current sensors. They could also perform tasks traditional machines can't match in flexibility or responsiveness.
Moreover, the researchers' objective is to engineer systems that not only perform tasks but learn from them, similar to living organisms adapting through experience. By understanding how microbes remember and react to their environments, the researchers hope to build networks capable of dynamic, self-modifying behaviour.
However, the introduction of living machines into public and commercial domains raises ethical and social implications, and Bennett's team at Rice University is actively examining these issues.
The SBI system, known as CL-1, has already demonstrated its potential by playing a version of the classic game Pong. Living computers, as per Bennett, may one day adapt and evolve in ways that surpass the capabilities of traditional machines.
This exciting development promises a future where computers are not just tools but living, learning entities, capable of adapting to their environment and evolving over time. The possibilities are endless, and it's an exciting time to be a part of this technological revolution.
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