Australian biotech startup Cortical Labs has unveiled the CL1—the world’s first commercially available biocomputer powered by living human brain cells. Launched at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on March 2, 2025, the CL1 represents the culmination of six years of intensive research and development. This marks a major milestone in merging biological systems with traditional computing, opening new frontiers for science and technology.
From DishBrain to CL1: A Six-Year Journey
The story of CL1 began in 2019 when Cortical Labs set out to explore the integration of biological neurons with silicon-based computing. Their initial prototype, DishBrain, was a groundbreaking development that combined approximately 800,000 human and mouse neurons on a silicon chip.
Remarkably, DishBrain demonstrated the ability to learn by playing the classic video game Pong, showcasing the potential of biological systems to process and adapt to real-time stimuli.
With the success of DishBrain, Cortical Labs continued refining their technology over the next three years, overcoming challenges related to the stability of hardware, neuron viability, and scalability.
These efforts culminated in the creation of the CL1, a hybrid biocomputer designed to operate efficiently with living human brain cells integrated into silicon chips.
Inside the CL1: Merging Biology with Technology
The CL1’s most innovative feature is its integration of human neurons onto a silicon-based chip, allowing biological networks to perform computational tasks.
The neurons, derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), are grown on a high-density multielectrode array (HD-MEA).
This array forms the foundation for neuron growth, allowing them to form dynamic networks capable of learning and adapting to their environment.
Biological Intelligence Operating System (biOS)
Central to the CL1’s operation is its proprietary Biological Intelligence Operating System (biOS).
The system enables seamless interaction between the biological neurons and the digital environment, allowing users to deploy computational code directly into the neurons.
Through biOS, the biocomputer learns, processes data, and adapts based on the tasks assigned to it, creating new possibilities for AI development and computational problem-solving.
Life Support System
The neurons in the CL1 require a stable, nutrient-rich environment to remain viable. To meet this need, the device includes a life support system that regulates temperature, gas exchange, and nutrient supply.
This system ensures that the neurons can remain alive and functional for up to six months, allowing researchers to use the biocomputer for extended periods without requiring constant maintenance.
Energy Efficiency
A key advantage of the CL1 over traditional AI systems is its energy efficiency. The biocomputer consumes significantly less power than silicon-based processors, making it more sustainable and cost-effective for long-term use.
A single rack of 30 CL1 units consumes only between 850 to 1,000 watts, which is far more energy-efficient than the large amounts typically needed for modern data centers.
This efficiency is a critical step toward reducing the environmental footprint of high-performance computing.
Applications and Implications
Medical Research and Drug Discovery
One of the most promising applications of the CL1 is in the field of medical research. The ability to simulate human brain activity in a controlled environment provides researchers with an unprecedented tool for studying neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and epilepsy.
By observing how neurons respond to different stimuli or pharmaceutical compounds, scientists can gain insights into potential treatments for these conditions. Furthermore, the CL1’s capacity for rapid learning and adaptation makes it ideal for drug discovery.
By testing how living neurons interact with various chemical compounds, the biocomputer can assist in identifying new treatments and predicting the effects of drugs on human brain cells.
Ethical Alternative to Animal Testing
Cortical Labs is also addressing concerns about the ethical implications of animal testing. By using human-derived neurons, the CL1 provides a more ethical and biologically relevant alternative to animal models.
This shift could significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of medical research, as data gathered from human neurons is inherently more applicable to human health outcomes.
Advancements in Artificial Intelligence
The combination of biological neurons and digital processors opens up exciting possibilities for the future of AI.
The CL1 surpasses traditional silicon-based systems in its ability to learn and adapt in real-time, making it a powerful tool for developing more advanced, autonomous AI systems.
In the coming years, we may see an entirely new generation of AI applications that are not only more efficient but also better at understanding and interacting with the real world.
Ethical Considerations
The use of living human brain cells in computing devices raises important ethical questions, particularly concerning the potential for consciousness or sentience in such systems.
Cortical Labs has acknowledged these concerns and has taken proactive steps to ensure that the CL1 adheres to stringent ethical guidelines.
The company has established oversight committees that include bioethicists, neuroscientists, and legal experts. These committees are responsible for monitoring the development and use of the CL1 to ensure that it operates within ethical boundaries.
Cortical Labs has also committed to transparent research practices, ensuring that the biocomputer’s usage is carefully regulated and ethically justified.
Future Developments
Commercial Availability
The CL1 is now available for purchase at an estimated price of $35,000, a fraction of the cost of comparable technologies.
This relatively low price point makes it accessible to a wider range of academic institutions, research organizations, and corporate labs.
The device is expected to ship in late 2025, with plans to ramp up production in the coming months.
Cortical Cloud: Wetware-as-a-Service
To further democratize access to this cutting-edge technology, Cortical Labs is launching the Cortical Cloud—a Wetware-as-a-Service platform.
Through this service, researchers will be able to remotely access and interact with CL1 units without needing to own or operate the physical hardware.
The cloud platform is expected to expand the reach of biocomputing and allow researchers worldwide to utilize the technology, accelerating the pace of innovation in this field.
Expansion Plans
As part of its growth strategy, Cortical Labs plans to assemble multiple CL1 units into a biological neural network server stack. These stacks, each containing 30 cell-based computing units, will be available for use through the Cortical Cloud.
The first stack is expected to go online within the next few months, with plans to have four stacks operational by the end of 2025. These server stacks will be accessible to researchers remotely, further enhancing global access to this groundbreaking technology.
The launch of the CL1 biocomputer marks a transformative moment in the world of computing, offering a glimpse into the future of bio-integrated technologies.
By combining human brain cells with silicon chips, the Cortical Labs new biological computer unlocks new possibilities for research, medical treatments, and artificial intelligence. As researchers continue to explore the potential of this hybrid system, we can expect the biological computer to play a central role in the next generation of computing solutions.
This pioneering technology not only challenges traditional computing paradigms but also sets the stage for more sustainable, ethical, and efficient systems in the future.
With the continued development of biocomputing technologies we may soon witness an era where biology and technology are indistinguishable from one another.
