Australian company Cortical Labs’ Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI) biocellular computer, CL1, has been launched, the world’s first commercialised “biocomputer” to fuse human brain cells with silicon hardware to form a fluid neural network.

CL-1’s biocomputer combines “lab-grown neurons from human stem cells” with silicon to create a neural network known as Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI).

CL-1 contains hundreds of thousands of neurons, which need to be cultured in solution and then grown on a silicon-based chip that sends and receives electrical impulses to and from the neural structures. The neurons are then integrated into a patented bio-intelligent operating system (biOS), which sends environmental information directly to the neurons, affecting their analogue world when they respond.

The CL-1 system includes a pump to maintain viability, a gas system and temperature control, with the neurons lasting up to six months.

Cortical Labs notes that the entire rack of CL1 units only requires the use of about 850-1,000W of energy, much less than traditional AI and computational models, and is fully programmable, providing bi-directional stimulation and readout interfaces.

Scientists believe that the CL-1 computer can be used in the future mainly in:
1. Pharmaceutical field: instead of animal experiments, quickly test the effects of new drugs on brain cells (such as Alzheimer’s disease drugs).
2. Disease research: simulate brain diseases such as epilepsy and dementia to study the pathogenesis.
3. Future AI: may develop intelligence closer to the human brain than ChatGPT, even for robot control.
4. Personalised medicine: Cultivate brain cells with the patient’s own stem cells to customise and test treatment plans.

The CL-1 is priced at $35,000 and is expected to ship in June 2025, with plans to provide remote access to the cloud.