A biotechnology startup is developing experimental data centers powered by living human brain cells in a radical approach that could eventually reshape the future of computing. According to a report by Bloomberg, Australia-based Cortical Labs is building small data centers that run on lab-grown neurons placed on silicon chips, an innovation that researchers believe could one day challenge traditional processors used in artificial intelligence systems.
The company recently unveiled its first biological data center in Melbourne and is constructing a second facility in Singapore in partnership with DayOne Data Centers Ltd.. Unlike traditional facilities filled with server racks and silicon processors, these centers will house biological computing devices known as CL1 units. Each unit is powered by living human brain cells that interact with a silicon chip capable of sending and receiving electrical signals.
Scientists behind the project say the neurons, which are grown from stem cells derived from human blood cells, sit on a specialized chip that records their responses to electrical stimulation. Software developed by Cortical Labs interprets those responses as computational output, effectively turning the biological cells into a form of living processor capable of learning and adapting.
Although the computing capacity of the system remains modest, the company has already demonstrated notable progress. Earlier experiments successfully trained the neurons to play the classic computer game Pong. More recently, researchers reported that the biological system had learned to play the far more complex game Doom, marking a significant step in demonstrating how biological networks can process information.
The experimental approach comes amid growing global concerns about the enormous energy demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure. The rapid expansion of AI data centers worldwide has raised environmental concerns due to their high electricity consumption, water usage for cooling systems, and increasing demand for silicon chips produced by companies such as Nvidia Corp..
Cortical Labs argues that biological computing could offer a major advantage in energy efficiency. According to the company’s founder and chief executive officer Hon Weng Chong, each CL1 unit consumes less electricity than a handheld calculator, far below the power requirements of conventional AI processors.
The Melbourne facility is expected to house around 120 CL1 units, while the Singapore data center will deploy up to 1,000 units in phases. The Singapore project will begin with an initial installation at the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, where researchers will further study the biological computing systems.
While experts say it could take years or even decades before such technology becomes competitive with mainstream semiconductor-based computing, the project reflects an increasing push among scientists to explore unconventional computing architectures. As artificial intelligence continues to demand greater processing power, innovations that combine biology with electronics may offer a potential path toward more efficient and sustainable computing systems.
