Our brain is an energy-efficient marvel, with 86 billion neurons and trillions of connections running on just 20 watts—the energy of a single lightbulb. Swiss innovators at Final Spark are transforming our biological brilliance into cutting-edge artificial intelligence. This is the frontier of software, called “wetware”—a revolutionary concept that replaces silicon chips with lab-grown neurons derived from stem cells. By harnessing the adaptability and efficiency of real brain cells, wetware might kickstart a new era of AI in which biology and technology merge to create an entirely new discipline.
It all starts with stem cells. Final Spark transforms skin cells into neurons, growing them in an orbital shaker—yes, it's like a brain smoothie maker. In three months, these stem cells become mini-brains (organoids) that are 0.5 mm in size. These "mini-brains" have about 10,000 neurons that function and are, in fact, real brain tissue.
Researchers then use a multi-electrode array to send microcurrent signals to these organoids, which respond with electric spikes. It is possible to see them react in real-time, processing information like our biological brains. They are tiny but also efficient, and full of possibilities: They might redefine what AI can do—and how it’s done. And it's all based on how the brain naturally processes information to reason and make intelligent decisions in an energy-efficient manner.
The next step in organoid development is training them to perform useful tasks. Like artificial neural networks (ANNs), which require training to recognize patterns in data, organoids must learn to process information in meaningful........