A biotechnology startup has launched experimental data centres powered by human brain cells rather than traditional computer processors, marking a new approach to computing infrastructure as global demand for artificial intelligence capacity rises.
Melbourne-based Cortical Labs said it has opened its first biological data centre in Melbourne and is building another facility in Singapore in partnership with DayOne Data Centres. The sites will host biological computing systems known as CL1 units, which use lab-grown human neurons placed on silicon chips to process information.
The project remains experimental and far from replacing conventional processors. However, it reflects growing efforts in the technology sector to explore alternative computing models as artificial intelligence drives demand for faster and more energy-efficient data infrastructure.
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Biological computing enters the data centre space
The facilities will replace racks of conventional servers with CL1 biological computing units. Each system contains neurons grown from human stem cells, placed on a chip that can send and receive electrical signals. The neurons’ responses are interpreted by software as a computational output.
According to the company, the Melbourne facility will initially house about 120 CL1 units. The Singapore site is planned to scale to as many as 1,000 units in phases. The first deployment will begin at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore.
The neurons used in the system are derived from human blood cells that are converted into stem cells, then differentiated into neural cells, before being integrated with the chip-based interface.
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Energy efficiency driving new computing experiments
The initiative comes as the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence systems is increasing the need for data centres and high-performance processors. This growth has also raised concerns about energy consumption and the availability of semiconductor components.
Cortical Labs said biological computers could offer an energy advantage. The company claims that each CL1 unit consumes less electricity than a handheld calculator, which is significantly lower than that of many advanced AI processors.
The systems’ computing power remains limited. In earlier experiments, the company demonstrated that lab-grown neurons could learn simple tasks, such as playing the video game Pong and later a more complex game, Doom. Researchers say the technology may take years to compete with conventional computing systems.
