Real human neurons mixed with microchips

Anicet Mbida 06:55, May 31, 2022

We are swimming in full science fiction with your innovation of the day.

We now know how to make biological microprocessors.

That is to say, which mix real human neurons with microchips.

This is not just an exercise in style.

It's also incredibly effective.

We compared the performance of this “FrankenProcesseur” with that of a conventional microprocessor.

And he learned in less than 5 minutes to play Pong (the video game), while it took almost two hours for a classic artificial intelligence. In fact, the researchers realized that neurons and chips Computers worked the same way.

They exchange information with electricity.

It is therefore ultimately quite easy to associate them within the same computer.

They also realized that not all neurons are created equal.

They, for example, started with mouse neurons.

But it is with human neurons that performance has exploded.

Where do they find these neurons?

They don't take them from men or women anyway.

Fortunately not !

They manufacture them from skin stem cells. Several startups are working on these bio-processors: the Australians of Cortical Labs and the Americans of Koniku.

With this new approach, they imagine being able to build supercomputers the size of a mobile phone;

or sensors of unprecedented sensitivity.

At Koniku, for example, the first product will be a nose capable of detecting cancer through the skin.

We say "bio-processors".

But ultimately, they are mini-electronic brains.

Exactly.

You have put your finger on the problem.

This could end up raising ethical questions.

For the moment, we are talking about 800,000 neurons, the equivalent of a cockroach's brain.

But tomorrow ?

How far could we go?

Could these mini-brains develop consciousness or feel pain? Man has always called on living things, especially animals, to help him with all sorts of tasks.

But is using a horse to pull a cart;

is the same to you as a computer with the consciousness of a horse?