Human Neurons on a Chip Can Now Run 'Doom'
Cortical Labs is selling a $35k biological computer, the CL1, that uses human neurons on a chip to run the video game 'Doom.' The low-power bio-hybrid system, building on earlier 'Pong' training, is aimed at AI research and drug testing, pointing to a new frontier for biotech and computing.
Melbourne-based Cortical Labs, founded in 2019 by Dr. Hon Weng Chong and Andy Kitchen, has raised a total of $11.6 million over two funding rounds. Its latest Series A funding round in April 2023 brought in $10 million, led by Horizons Ventures, the investment arm of Hong Kong's Li Ka-shing, with participation from Blackbird Ventures and In-Q-Tel, the CIA's venture capital firm. The CL1 system uses approximately 200,000 living human neurons, derived from stem cells, which are grown on top of high-density multi-electrode arrays. This "DishBrain" is housed within a life-support unit that manages temperature, gas, and provides a nutrient-rich solution to keep the neurons viable for up to six months. The company's Biological Intelligence Operating System (biOS) translates the game's visual data into patterns of electrical stimulation for the neurons. This isn't the first video game these neurons have mastered. In 2022, a precursor system with 800,000 neurons was taught to play 'Pong'. The move to 'Doom' represents a significant leap in complexity, demonstrating what Cortical Labs' Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Brett Kagan, calls "adaptive real-time goal-directed learning." While the 'Pong' training took over 18 months, an independent developer taught the CL1 to play 'Doom' in about a week. The neurons learn to play by receiving electrical feedback. Specific electrodes stimulate sensory areas of the neural culture to indicate an enemy's position, and the system interprets the neurons' responsive firing patterns as motor commands, such as shooting or moving. While the cells currently play like a beginner and "die a lot," they show evidence of learning to seek out and shoot enemies. Cortical Labs is targeting researchers and scientists with the CL1, which is not designed for average consumer use and requires a laboratory environment. Beyond gaming, the company aims for its technology to accelerate medical research, particularly in drug discovery and personalized medicine for conditions like epilepsy and dementia, while reducing the need for animal testing. For those without a lab, Cortical Labs offers access to its systems via the Cortical Cloud. The company is also developing a biological neural network server stack, which will house 30 individual CL1 units, making the "Wetware-as-a-Service" available for remote use by commercial clients.
