16 lab-grown brains run world's first 'living computer' in Switzerland

[LudwigPastorius]

"Brains" is headline clickbait, but the story is interesting.

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/worlds-first-living-computer-switzerland?utm

Swiss technology firm Final Spark has successfully launched Neuroplatform, the world’s first bioprocessing platform where human brain organoids (lab-grown miniaturized versions of organs) perform computational tasks instead of silicon chips.

-snip

Replacing silicon chips with bioprocessors could lead to drastic energy savings. Final Spark allows research labs to experience the power of biological processors on the Neuroplatform.

-snip-

Final Spark has made working these varied components possible through an innovative setup called Multi-Electrode Arrays (MEAs), where the three-dimensional masses of brain tissue are placed.

-snip-

Final Spark faced many challenges in its early years since the organoids would die in just a few hours. The company has worked on this shortcoming and improved its MEA systems to ensure that organoids live for 100 days.

If you've watched Star Trek Voyager, with its "bio-neural gel packs", you are familiar with the concept. The pulp sci-fi, The Matrix, takes the idea to its dystopian extreme, a superintelligent AI using human brains for their processing power.

[lindysalsagal]

1. My bio-engineer daughter verifies this is real. It will change the world

In ways we can't even imagine.

[LudwigPastorius]

2. Yeah.

While I know there's no chance that human brain organoid processors could have any kind of awareness, it still gives me a squeamish feeling.

Call it the "I Have No Mouth And I Must Compile Your Program" creeps.

[PatSeg]

3. Yeah, a tad creepy

[chowder66]

4. Grody but fascinating.

[LudwigPastorius]

5. At least it'll give us another excuse to skip out from work.

"Sorry, but I've got to run home and feed my computer."

[chowder66]

7. Brain drain!

[chowder66]

8. Can't wait for all the cute TikTok brain videos!!

[LudwigPastorius]

11. ...or, for the MAGA/Q conspiracy that Democrats are harvesting fetuses to run Hillary's email server.

[Think. Again.]

6. I was wondering when...

...they were going to get around to using biological materials to build computers rather than minerals.

I think now we're getting close to the having to ask the question of whether, if we instill learning AI into biological materials, and build it so that it is self sustaining somehow, have we created life?

[triron]

9. The hard question is that of consciousness.

[Think. Again.]

14. That's always been a question though...

...not to get too philosophical, but we don't even understand conciousness in humans or other animals, "the only conciousness I am sure of is my own", etc.

[LudwigPastorius]

10. !

[Wednesdays]

12. Lab grown brains?

[Hotler]

13. Abby Normal? nt