Australian company Cortical Labs has launched sales of the “world’s first biological computer,” CL1, which integrates human brain cells with silicon hardware to create neural connections.
On March 2, the firm unveiled a system called “Synthetic Biological Intelligence” (SBI). In this system, neural networks from human cells are formed on a silicon chip, representing a “constantly evolving organic computer.”
It allows “code to run directly on real neurons to solve the most complex modern tasks.”
“CL1 is the first biological computer that allows medical and research laboratories to test how real neurons process information, offering an ethically advantageous alternative to animal testing and providing more relevant data and insights,” the project’s website states.
With CL1, researchers can study brain function “with unprecedented clarity” through biological computing, which captures the adaptability and learnability of neurons in real-time, revealing disease mechanisms and the impact of compounds on cognition.
According to the developers, SBI can learn quickly and flexibly, surpassing silicon AI chips used for training existing large language models.
“Unlike traditional AI, our neural systems require minimal energy and training data to master complex tasks. This is not just a new computer. It is computing reimagined,” the project’s website states.
Clients can purchase CL1 outright or rent time with it, accessing it remotely via the cloud. Its widespread distribution is expected in the second half of 2025.
“Today marks the culmination of an idea that has driven Cortical Labs for nearly six years. Over the past few years, we have made a series of significant breakthroughs […]”, commented the startup’s founder and CEO, Dr. Hon Weng Chong.
All the capabilities of SBI will become clear once the system is in the hands of users, the leader added.
Back in July 2024, Chinese scientists developed a robot with a lab-grown artificial brain, capable of being taught to perform various tasks.