In a quiet lab in Brunswick, Melbourne, something extraordinary happened: hundreds of thousands of living human neurons, nestled inside a shoebox-sized container, began to learn. The project, spearheaded by Dr. Brett Kagan and his team at Cortical Labs, has now become CL1 — the world’s first commercialised biological computer. Launched at an international tech conference in Barcelona, CL1 blends the complexity of human neurons with modern computing to create a system that learns, evolves, and potentially reshapes how we think about intelligence.
What is CL1 and Biological AI?
CL1 is a compact system housing lab-grown human neurons that can be accessed remotely through what Cortical Labs calls “Wetware-as-a-Service.” These neurons, derived from blood cells and converted into stem cells, are designed to learn and respond to stimuli — a biological parallel to artificial intelligence. Unlike conventional AI models like ChatGPT or DALL·E, CL1 doesn’t replicate digital intelligence but taps into the intrinsic capabilities of human neurons to understand and adapt using very little data or energy.
Dr. Kagan believes this biological AI approach could redefine tasks such as disease modelling or drug testing, and eventually support highly efficient learning systems. The key advantages are low power consumption — CL1 uses just a few watts — and the incredible speed at which neurons can learn from minimal data, a stark contrast to the power-hungry and data-heavy processes of traditional AI.
Teaching a Dish to Play Pong
One of Cortical Labs’ earliest milestones was teaching a network of neurons — nicknamed “DishBrain” — to play the classic video game Pong. The neurons received feedback through patterns: correct responses triggered rewarding input, while incorrect ones received random signals. Over time, the system improved its performance, learning from experience.
Though it didn’t become a Pong champion, DishBrain’s ability to outperform random behavior demonstrated the neurons’ potential to learn. Building on this, Cortical Labs has refined the system with new hardware and software to make CL1 even more efficient and precise, setting the stage for more complex applications in the future.
Ethics and Future of Biological Computing
Despite the excitement, the rise of biological computing comes with ethical questions. Scientists like Silvia Velasco and Professor Ernst Wolvetang acknowledge both the potential and the caution required. While the current neural systems are far from sentient, the risk of developing networks that could approach consciousness isn’t entirely dismissed.
Cortical Labs is taking these concerns seriously, working closely with bioethicists to ensure ethical boundaries are respected. Dr. Kagan emphasizes that these systems are not miniature brains with emotions or thoughts — rather, they are tools that can revolutionize medicine and computing without mimicking the full depth of human consciousness. The future, while uncertain, holds incredible promise as biological and digital frontiers converge.
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