In a development that sounds more like science fiction than science fact, Swiss researchers are making real strides in creating computers powered by living human brain cells. At the FinalSpark laboratory in Vevey, Switzerland, scientists are growing tiny clusters of brain cells that can respond to electrical signals, essentially creating biological computers that could revolutionize how we think about artificial intelligence and computing in general.
The Science Behind “Wetware” Computing
The concept might sound like something out of a sci-fi novel, but it’s very real science taking place in laboratories today. FinalSpark’s approach begins with stem cells derived from human skin cells, purchased from a clinic in Japan. These cells are then cultivated to form clusters of neurons called organoids—essentially miniature brains that, while nowhere near as complex as a human brain, contain the same fundamental building blocks.
“In science fiction, people have been living with these ideas for quite a long time,” explains Dr. Fred Jordan, co-founder of FinalSpark lab. “When you start to say, ‘I’m going to use a neuron like a little machine’, it’s a different view of our own brain and it makes you question what we are.”
These organoids are then attached to electrodes, creating what researchers call “wetware”—a somewhat eyebrow-raising term for biological computing components. The process allows scientists to send electrical signals to the organoids and record their responses, creating a biological processing system.
How It Works
In FinalSpark’s laboratory, cellular biologist Dr. Flora Brozzi demonstrates the process by handing over a dish containing several small white orbs. Each sphere is a lab-grown mini-brain, made from living stem cells that have been cultured into clusters of neurons and supporting cells. After several months of development, these organoids are ready to be connected to an electrode system.
The testing process is surprisingly straightforward: researchers press a key that sends an electric signal through the electrodes, and if successful, they can observe a response on a connected computer screen. While it doesn’t always work, when it does, the response appears as a small jump of activity on a moving graph that resembles an EEG readout.
Energy Efficiency and Potential Applications
One of the most compelling advantages of this biocomputing approach is its potential for energy efficiency. Traditional artificial intelligence systems are notoriously power-hungry, with some requiring massive amounts of electricity to operate. In contrast, biological computing systems like those being developed at FinalSpark could operate on a fraction of that energy.
The vision is ambitious: one day, we might see data centers filled with “living” servers that replicate aspects of how artificial intelligence learns, but consume significantly less power than current methods. This could address one of the major environmental concerns associated with the rapid expansion of AI technology.
Current Limitations and Progress
Despite the promising potential, significant challenges remain. One of the biggest hurdles is keeping the biological computers alive. “Organoids don’t have blood vessels,” explains Professor Simon Schultz, Director of the Center for Neurotechnology at Imperial College London. “The human brain has blood vessels that permeate throughout it at multiple scales and provide nutrients to keep it working well. We don’t yet know how to make them properly.”
FinalSpark has made considerable progress, with their organoids now surviving for up to four months—a significant improvement from earlier attempts. However, the researchers have observed some unsettling patterns when the organoids approach the end of their lifespan.
Sometimes, just before dying, the organoids exhibit a flurry of activity similar to increased heart rate and brain activity observed in humans at the end of life. “There have been a few events when we had a very fast increase in activity just the last minutes or 10s of seconds [of life],” Dr. Jordan notes. “I think we have recorded about 1,000 or 2,000 of these individual deaths across the past five years.”
Ethical Considerations and Scientific Community Response
The development of biological computing raises profound ethical questions. Could these organoids develop some form of consciousness? Might they experience pain or suffering? These aren’t just philosophical musings—they’re serious concerns that researchers and ethicists are actively discussing.
“The main ethical concern, they add, is that the organoids could gain some aspect of consciousness, and may experience pain or suffering,” notes ethicists studying the field. The question of human dignity and the moral status of brain organoids is becoming increasingly important as the technology advances.
The broader scientific community views biocomputing as an exciting but early-stage field. Dr. Lena Smirnova, who leads research at Johns Hopkins University, believes wetware is scientifically fascinating but still in its infancy. “Biocomputing should complement – not replace – silicon AI, while also advancing disease modelling and reducing animal use,” she explains.
This perspective is shared by many in the field. Rather than replacing traditional silicon-based computing, biological computers are seen as complementary technology with specific advantages for certain applications. Professor Schultz agrees: “I think they won’t be able to out-compete silicon on many things, but we’ll find a niche.”
Other Players in the Field
FinalSpark isn’t the only research group exploring this frontier. Australian firm Cortical Labs made headlines in 2022 when they managed to get artificial neurons to play the classic computer game Pong. Meanwhile, researchers at Johns Hopkins University are building “mini-brains” to study how they process information in the context of drug development for neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and autism.
This diverse research landscape suggests that biological computing is more than just a single laboratory’s curiosity—it’s an emerging field with multiple approaches and potential applications.
Public Fascination and Future Prospects
The public’s fascination with this research is evident not just in media coverage, but in the enthusiasm of people willing to donate their cells for research purposes. “We have many people who approach us,” Dr. Jordan notes about offers to provide stem cells. “But we select only stem cells coming from official suppliers, because the quality of the cells are essential.”
This level of public engagement reflects both the scientific intrigue and the ethical considerations that come with creating biological computers. For Dr. Jordan, the journey continues to feel like living science fiction: “I’ve always been fan of science fiction. When you have a movie of science fiction, or a book, I always felt a bit sad because my life was not like in the book. Now I feel like I’m in the book, writing the book.”
While practical applications may still be years away, the research represents a significant step toward a future where biology and computing intersect in ways that could transform both fields. As these tiny clusters of human cells continue to respond to electrical stimuli in laboratory dishes, they’re opening up new possibilities for how we might approach artificial intelligence, energy efficiency, and our understanding of the brain itself.
The convergence of biology, AI, and advanced computing in this research highlights why it has captured public imagination and scientific interest alike. Whether these biological computers will ultimately revolutionize the tech industry or remain a specialized tool for specific applications, they represent a fascinating glimpse into the future of computing technology.
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