Scientists Grow Mini Human Brains to Power Computers

It may have its roots in science fiction, but a small number of researchers are making real progress trying to create computers out of living cells.

Welcome to the weird world of biocomputing.

Among those leading the way are a group of scientists in Switzerland, who I went to meet.

One day, they hope we could see data centres full of "living" servers which replicate aspects of how artificial intelligence (AI) learns - and could use a fraction of the energy of current methods.

That is the vision of Dr Fred Jordan, co-founder of the FinalSpark lab I visited.

We are all used to the ideas of hardware and software in the computers we currently use.

The somewhat eyebrow-raising term Dr Jordan and others in the field use to refer to what they are creating is "wetware".

In simple terms, it involves creating neurons which are developed into clusters called organoids, which in turn can be attached to electrodes - at which point the process of trying to use them like mini-computers can begin.

- Author: Zoe Kleinman, BBC

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