BioRevolution #4 - Organoid Intelligence

While we are talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI), Organoid Intelligence (OI) is coming with its revolutionary style. This groundbreaking domain seeks to transcend the limitations of traditional computing by harnessing the intricate workings of the human brain. Moreover, it does that by using our cells. Please, sit in your chair and fasten your seat belts because you will read issue is stunning. Imagine, scientists are using your own cells and making your brain organoid. What will we do for a living? Maybe, we will learn to become more human. Anyway, that continues in the future perspective part of the issue.

We will examine OI from 3 main perspectives;

• Scientific Perspective
• Market Perspective
• Future Perspective

Let's start with a scientific perspective!

Scientific Perspective

Before diving into the realm of intelligent organoids, it's essential to understand what organoids are. Grown from stem cells, these 3D structures can replicate the complexity of actual human organs. Used in research for disease modeling and drug testing, organoids represent a significant advancement in biomedical science. But what if these organoids could do more? What if they could 'think' or 'learn'?

The essence of OI revolves around creating biocomputers that surpass the efficiency, power, and speed of existing silicon-based and AI systems. By harnessing 3D cultures of human brain cells—brain organoids—and integrating them with advanced brain-machine interfaces, OI aims to replicate and leverage the brain's natural processing capabilities. This initiative not only promises to advance computing technologies but also provides deeper insights into brain development, learning processes, and memory formation.

Brain organoids, also known as neural organoids, are artificially grown in vitro tissues that closely resemble the human brain. These organoids are created by culturing pluripotent stem cells, which spontaneously develop into three-dimensional structures mimicking brain tissue. Over months, these organoids can develop anatomical features resembling specific regions of the nervous system, such as the cortex, choroid plexus, retina, meninges, spinal cord, and hippocampus. This makes them invaluable for studying neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases in a controlled environment. [... ]

The OI system's architecture is meticulously designed to optimize the organoid's learning potential. This is achieved by enriching the culture environment with cells and genes critical for learning processes, including Immediate Early Genes (IEGs). The organoid's scalability, viability, and long-term sustainability are supported by integrated microfluidic systems, allowing for precise control over the organoid's development and maintenance.

Inputs to the organoid are varied, including electrical and chemical stimuli, synthetic signals from machine sensors, and natural signals from connected sensory organoids, such as those mimicking retinal functions. Outputs from the organoid are equally diverse, captured through advanced electrophysiological recordings and imaging techniques. These outputs not only serve computational purposes but also act as biofeedback, promoting the organoid's learning and adaptation.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are integral to the OI framework. They encode and decode signals interacting with the organoid, developing solutions that seamlessly blend biological and computational elements. This synergy is supported by a robust big-data management system, crucial for handling the extensive data generated by this biocomputing setup.

OI's ambition is not merely to create more efficient computing systems but to forge a future where biocomputers enhance computational efficiency and provide groundbreaking insights into neurological conditions like dementia. This journey stands at the innovation crossroads, not just heralding the creation of new technology but envisioning a future that harmoniously blends the marvels of the human brain with the limitless possibilities of artificial intelligence.

The theoretical advantages of OI over traditional AI are significant, especially in rapidly changing environments, when data is scarce, in low-power, low-cost settings, for unique problems without precedent, and when swift solutions are essential. This suggests that OI could not only complement existing AI technologies but, in some cases, offer superior alternatives. [... ]

As we stand on the brink of this new frontier, it's clear that OI represents more than an advancement in biotechnology or computing; it symbolizes a profound shift in how we perceive and harness the interplay between life and machine, offering a glimpse into a future where biological and digital intelligences converge.

??Groundbreaking News: Human Brain Cells in a Dish Learn to Play Pong [... ]

Researchers taught brain cells grown in a petri dish to play the classic video game Pong! Here’s how it happened:

DishBrain: The team cultivated around 800,000 living brain cells in a controlled environment. These neurons formed a simplified model of brain function, known as DishBrain.

Structured Feedback: They provided structured feedback to these neurons, akin to teaching a novice player how to play Pong. Instead of silicon-based computer models, they worked directly with real biological neurons.

Learning to Play: Remarkably, after just five minutes of this feedback, the neurons learned to control a virtual paddle in the Pong game. They responded to an electrical signal, moving the paddle up and down to intercept the bouncing ball.

Market Perspective

We examined the scientific details of Organoid Intelligence (OI) together. Time to look at the organoids market details! The organoids market is set to experience a remarkable expansion, with projections indicating growth from USD 88 million in 2021 to USD 290.8 million by 2028, achieving a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.4% during the 2022-2028 period. This growth underscores the rising demand and integration of organoids across various sectors, including biopharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and academic and research institutes.

-Industry Research Biz’s Organoids Market Growth Insights 2023-2030 Report-

Startup Ecosystem:

1.FinalSpark

Switzerland based company

Founded in?2014

FinalSpark ?is a pioneering company that delves into the realm of?biocomputing. Their vision revolves around creating an?Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)?system capable of passing the?Turing test. Unlike traditional AI, which relies on silicon-based processors, FinalSpark harnesses the power of?biological neural networks?grown from neurons in cell cultures.

*Received an investment in the Series A round on November 1, 2022

2.Cortical Labs

Singapore?based company

Founded in 2019

Cortical Labs ' mission is that simulate human neural networks on silicon chips and seamlessly integrate them into our digital world. By growing human neurons into silicon, they create what they call “dishbrains”—neural networks that learn, adapt, and breathe life into machines. These organic-digital intelligences promise to be more powerful, flexible, and creative than any purely digital model, opening up exciting possibilities for the future of artificial intelligence

*Cortical Labs raises 10 million Dollars for its Pong-playing stem cells that eventually could power AI

Future Perspective

• As someone who chose the role of 3D bioprinters in drug discovery as the subject of the BSc graduation project, I would first like to state that I enjoyed writing about this subject. As you can guess, my future perspective is that these organoids are bioprinted with 3D bioprinters. I look forward to a movement from start to finish in this regard, from companies producing consumables to laboratories. We are taking the first steps toward a unique future where we can experience personalization even on our computers, which I will discuss in more detail under the topic of personalized treatment. We should experience the unique pleasure of witnessing this and think a lot.
• If my laptop and even my biocomputer created from my brain cells will facilitate or do the work I need to do, what will I do for a living? When I think about this issue, I don't feel afraid because I can say "I will be more human" as an answer to this question. More human connection, more kindness, more laughter. Please, do not think of me as a writer who is passionate about technology and looks at the world through rose-colored glasses. We are creatures that develop the features we think about more in ourselves, which is why someone needs to look at the beneficial aspects of technology.
• From an ethical perspective, when talking even about artificial intelligence, we cannot figure out who would be responsible for a mistake made by it. Now we are talking about organoid intelligence. This is going to be much more complicated because of the big question that who we should go to when these biocomputer systems make a mistake. Is the person responsible the user, the developer of the system, or the person whose cells were used to create the organoid? Now, referring to the previous article, I would like to say that "maybe it is time to be much more human and raise more people?". We need more philosophers to bring these ethical problems closer to a solution, more communicators to bridge the gap between the public and the scientific community, and good people to use or produce all these developments correctly.

Thank you

I would like to introduce you to Prof. Dr Gülruh Albayrak . I took her stem cell course and she contributed greatly to the development of our future perspective by showing Organoid intelligence as one of the sub-topics of the course. I thank her very much.

Kind regards,

Elif Damla Karakolcu

See you beyond Organoid Intelligence :)

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