Swiss technology firm FinalSpark has introduced a groundbreaking program allowing scientists to rent ‘biocomputers’ made from human brain cells for $500 a month. These biocomputers, named Neurospark, are designed to provide a more efficient and energy-saving alternative for training artificial intelligence (AI) models.

FinalSpark claims that using human brain cells for AI training could be up to 100,000 times more efficient than traditional silicon-based systems.

It composes of 16 organoids, or clumps of brain cells that were grown in a lab, which send information between each other, and offers real-time online access to these living biocomputers, which could revolutionise AI development.

In a recent interview, Dr. Fred Jordan, co-CEO of FinalSpark, stated, “While this concept is often featured in science fiction, there has been limited real-world research on it.”

Training AI with these biocomputers differs significantly from conventional methods. Typically, AI models are trained using numerical rewards, but with brain cells, scientists use biological methods. They administer dopamine, a chemical associated with rewards in the brain, to promote learning, and apply electrical signals as negative feedback. This approach more closely mimics how human brains learn and adapt.

However, these biocomputers have a limited lifespan of about 100 days. After this period, the AI system must be transferred to a new cluster of brain cells, as the old one ceases to function.

Also read: Less than 20% of Japanese companies using generative AI: survey

Despite this limitation, the program opens exciting possibilities for future developments. It hints at the potential to create AI systems with longer lifespans that could more closely emulate human experiences. The innovative use of living brain cells represents a significant step forward in AI training technology, offering both challenges and opportunities for future advancements in the field.