Singapore has made a significant leap in technology by introducing a biological data center that utilizes live human brain cells, specifically neurons. This facility deviates from traditional data centers that rely solely on silicon chips, as it employs neurons cultivated from stem cells to process information and support artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
Collaboration with Leading Institutions
The initiative is a collaborative effort between the National University of Singapore (NUS) Medicine and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. Additionally, it involves partnerships with local data center company DayOne and Melbourne-based startup Cortical Labs, which specializes in biological computing.
Prototype Development
Located at the NUS Life Sciences Institute, this prototype represents the first step toward establishing a large-scale biological data center in Singapore, and notably, the first of its kind outside of Australia. Unlike traditional data centers, this facility does not use an entire human brain; instead, it employs brain cells that are developed in a laboratory setting and integrated into a specialized computing system.
Technological Innovations in Biological Computing
The biological data center operates using 20 units of CL1 devices created by Cortical Labs. Each CL1 unit is designed to connect live neurons with electronic systems. These brain cells, derived from stem cells, are positioned within the CL1 units, allowing for direct communication with computers through a method known as Microelectrode Array (MEA).
Real-Time Processing and Integration
MEA technology facilitates the transmission of electrical stimuli to the neurons while simultaneously capturing the electrical activity generated by them. The responses from the neurons are then utilized in computational processes. To ensure seamless integration and real-time monitoring, all 20 CL1 units are stacked together in a single biological server rack.
NUS refers to this innovative biological data center as an example of wetware in computing, which encompasses living biological components within computing systems. This term complements the existing concepts of hardware and software, with hardware indicating physical components and software denoting the programs that perform various functions.
Source: https://tekno.kompas.com/read/2026/08/22/19030017/singapura-buka-data-center-ai-pertama-yang-pakai-sel-otak-manusia
