The science of wetware: living computers
What sounds like science fiction is increasingly taking shape in laboratories around the world. Biocomputing, or the use of living tissue to perform computations, relies on tiny neural networks grown from human cells—organoid brain structures—that are interfaced with electronic sensors. Researchers refer to these systems as “wetware”: computers made from living tissue rather than silicon. The idea is to harness the brain’s efficiency and adaptability to process information in ways traditional chips cannot.
The FinalSpark approach: growing mini brains
In a lab visit highlighted by BBC, researchers at FinalSpark—co-founded by Dr. Fred Jordan—are exploring a future where data centers could be powered by living networks. The process begins with stem cells derived from human skin, sourced from licensed clinics in Japan. Over months, these cells are coaxed to form small, spherical neural structures called organoids. When mature enough, the organoids are wired to electrodes, turning them into testable computational units. A user input, such as pressing a key, sends an electric signal to the organoid, and the resulting neuronal activity is displayed as an EEG-like graph on a screen. The team describes tasks such as image recognition: feed the system a picture of a cat, and the output should indicate whether it is indeed a cat.
From input to output: teaching the organoids
Proponents say biocomputing could offer energy efficiency advantages, as living networks can self-organize and potentially perform certain tasks with far lower power draw than silicon chips. Yet training these evolving systems remains a frontier. FinalSpark frames its work as a step toward “servers of the future” that learn in ways akin to artificial intelligence, but with biological substrates that could change how computation and cognition intersect.
Challenges of keeping a living computer alive
The most persistent hurdle is the lack of an intrinsic vascular system. The human brain survives on a complex network of blood vessels delivering nutrients; organoids, by contrast, lack such vasculature. Researchers admit they have yet to reproduce this essential feature, which limits organoid size and longevity. In practice, organoids produced by FinalSpark can survive for up to about four months, a window during which scientists observe bursts of intense activity similar to moments at the end of life in humans. In one year’s span, the team recorded numerous such episodes and, at times, had to halt experiments and start anew. The pragmatic view from researchers, including Dr. Jordan, is that these systems are “computers built from a different material”—not threats to be feared but tools with distinct constraints.
Global efforts and potential roles
Biocomputing is not confined to a single lab. In Australia, Cortical Labs announced in 2022 that their neuron cultures could learn to play Pong, marking a milestone in living computation. In the United States, Johns Hopkins University studies mini-brain networks to understand how information is processed, with aspirations to accelerate drug discovery for conditions such as Alzheimer’s and autism. Researchers like Dr. Lena Smirnova emphasize a collaborative role for biocomputing: the technology should complement, not replace, silicon chips, and could help reduce animal testing while opening new avenues for AI-driven medicine. Simon Schultz, a neurotechnology professor at Imperial College London, adds a pragmatic note: living computers won’t supplant traditional processors in most domains, but they may carve out niche applications where their biology offers advantages.
From SF to reality
Dr. Fred Jordan acknowledges that a love of science fiction inspired his team. He notes feeling as if he has moved from reading about future laboratories to living inside one, where biology and computing intersect in real time. If biocomputing continues to mature, it could reshape how we design data centers, how we test therapies, and how we conceptualize learning systems.
Conclusion: a future of living servers
While still in the early stages, biocomputing promises to broaden the horizon of AI and biomedical research. Wetware-based processors might eventually co-exist with silicon, offering new tools for pattern recognition, energy efficiency, and rapid medical insights. The road ahead is challenging—organic systems demand novel engineering, ethical considerations, and careful regulation—but the potential to blur the boundary between life and computation keeps the field moving forward.
