The Biocomputing Genesis
The groundwork for biocomputing was laid nearly 50 years ago, as indicated by experts like Bram Servais, a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering at The University
of Melbourne. Early experiments involved scientists cultivating neurons on small electrode arrays to analyze their firing patterns. The early 2000s saw rudimentary two-way communication established between neurons and electrodes, fostering the concept of bio-hybrid computing. However, significant progress stalled until the breakthrough of brain organoids in 2013. The field began to take shape, with research teams and companies globally, including in the US, Switzerland, China, and Australia, actively engaged in building biohybrid platforms. This initial stage highlighted the potential of blending biological components with electronic systems to unlock novel computing capabilities.
Organoids and Innovation
A pivotal development in biocomputing came with the advent of brain organoids. These are 3D, brain-like structures grown from stem cells. Organoids are now a standard research tool, often used alongside “organ-on-a-chip” technology for studies in neuroscience and toxicology. They represent a significant shift from previous methodologies and are frequently used to study chemical effects on early brain development. In 2022, Cortical Labs gained attention for successfully training cultured neurons to play Pong. However, experts generally agree that current organoids are not conscious or close to it, even though complex network behavior is emerging without much external stimulation. Researchers are investigating them as alternatives to animal models.
Energy Efficiency and Speed
The human brain’s remarkable power efficiency is a major inspiration for biocomputing researchers. The brain operates on less than 20 watts while performing the equivalent of one billion mathematical operations per second. In contrast, even the most powerful supercomputers, which can match the brain's processing speed, consume a million times more energy. This significant disparity highlights the potential of biocomputers to revolutionize computational efficiency. The aim is to create systems that can achieve high performance while consuming significantly less energy. Biocomputers are poised to potentially transform computational hardware by harnessing the natural efficiency of biological systems.
Current Applications and Future
Today, biocomputers can currently manage only basic activities, as the technology is still very new. Yet, the range of applications is wide, and scientists are using biocomputers to achieve exciting results. One example is a biocomputing system which links living brain cells to a computer to achieve basic speech recognition. Many teams are focused on consistently advancing, reproducing, and scaling up prototype systems. Commercial ventures are looking beyond the pharmaceutical industry, and are targeting AI researchers. One specific goal is to use organoids to predict the Amazon oil spill by 2028. Academic ambitions also remain high, with many teams striving to create biohybrid platforms.
Ethical Considerations
Ethical governance in biocomputing faces major challenges, as existing frameworks typically treat organoids merely as biomedical tools. This approach lags behind the rapid commercialization and development of biocomputing technologies. Experts are now calling for updated ethics guidelines to address the implications of these advancements. Because the field is emerging so quickly, urgent action is needed to establish frameworks that consider the ethical dimensions of biocomputing research and applications. The conversation includes how the use of “organoid intelligence” might overstate its abilities when compared to AI.
