Organoids are three-dimensional clusters of biological tissue that scientists have grown by experimenting with them for years. Researchers led by Thomas Hartung, professor of environmental health sciences at Johns Hopkins University, are working with brain organoids to create a “biocomputer” powered by human brain cells.

We are at a point where technologies to achieve a real biocomputer are maturing. Making quick decisions based on incomplete and contradictory information (intuitive thinking),
– said Hartung.

Using organoids grown from cells is advantageous for scientists as it does not require human or animal testing. Since 2012, Hartung has been creating functional brain organoids using human skin cells that have been reprogrammed into embryonic stem cell state. They can then be used to create brain cells and eventually organoids with functioning neurons and other properties that can support essential functions such as memory and continuous learning.

This opens up opportunities to study how the human brain works. Because you can start manipulating the system, you can do things that cannot be done with the human brain for ethical reasons,
– explained the scientist.

live computer

Scientists plan to assemble brain organoids into new forms of biological computing equipment that will be far more energy efficient than today’s supercomputers. Such computers will cope better with complex logical problems.

Organoid intelligence and biocomputers won’t pose a threat to AI or old-fashioned human brains anytime soon. But Hartung believes the time has come to increase the production of brain organoids and train them with artificial intelligence to overcome some of the shortcomings of our current silicon systems.

The scientist emphasizes that it will take ten years to achieve the goal of creating something comparable to any kind of biological computer.