Your support helps us tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, the Independent is on the ground when the story develops. Whether it is investigating the finances of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or our latest documentary ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on American women who fight for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to analyze the facts from the messages.
At such a critical moment in American history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to send to journalists to speak on both sides of the story.
The independent is trusted by Americans across the political spectrum. Unlike many other quality news stores, we choose not to block Americans from our reporting and analysis with pay walls. We believe that quality journalism should be available to anyone paid by those who can afford it.
Your support makes the difference.
An Australian boot has unveiled the world’s first commercial biological computer working on living human brain cells.
Cortical Labs, based on Melbourne, launched the CL1 this week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and described it as a ‘body in a box’ which has the potential to have a revolution in AI and robotics.
The computer uses laboratory -grown neurons that grow over a silicon disc, which allows them to send and receive electrical impulses.
This setup is then integrated into Cortical Labs’ biological intelligence operating system (BIOS), through which user code can deploy through the neurons and perform computer issues.
An internal life support system of pumps, gas and temperature controls keeps the neurons alive for up to six months.
“A simple way to describe it would be like a body in a box,” Cortical Labs chief scientist Brett Kagan told New Atlas.
The biological-based system is able to learn and adapt more efficiently than conventional silicon-based computers, while also using significantly less energy.
An early version of the biological computer with 800,000 human and mouse neurons on a chip could teach himself how to play the video game Pong.
An article published in the magazine Cell said that the neurons learned and displayed if they were embodied in the simulated game world.
The company claims to have put in place to address ethical problems regarding consciousness and spirituality, although few details have been provided. The independent issued to cortical laboratories for comment.
“The neuron is self -programming, infinitely flexible and the result of four billion years of evolution,” says Cortical Labs on its website.
“Our technology is merging biology with traditional computer work to create the ultimate learning machine … Unlike traditional AI, our neural systems need minimal energy and training data to master complicated tasks.”
Cortical Labs said the first CL1 computers are ready to send to customers in June, with each unit costing about $ 35,000 (£ 27,000).
“Today is the highlight of a vision that has powered cortical laboratories for almost six years,” Dr. Cortical founder and CEO Hon Weng Chong said.
“Our long -term mission was to democratize this technology, making it accessible to researchers without specialized hardware and software. The CL1 is the realization of the mission.
‘Although today’s announcement is incredibly exciting, this is the basis for the next phase of innovation. The real impact and the actual implications will come from every researcher, academic or innovator who builds on it. “
