Human Brain Cell Computing: Future of AI or Ethical Minefield?

Welcome, AI entrepreneurs & enthusiasts.

A startup from Switzerland has created AI “biocomputers“ made from real human brain cells, that are now rentable for just $500 a month.

Could using organoids be the future of how we create 100,000x more energy efficient AI, or is this an ethical disaster waiting to happen? Let’s investigate…

In today’s AI news:

• Creating AI using human brain cells
• California compromises on AI safety bill
• AI tongue scanner transforms healthcare
• More AI & tech news

Read time: 4 minutes

Creating AI using human brain cells

The News: Swiss startup FinalSpark just launched a service allowing scientists to rent cloud access to "biocomputers" made of human brain cells for $500 a month, in an effort to create AI that uses 100,000x less energy than current systems.

The details:

• The system uses organoids (clumps of human brain cells) that can "live" and compute for up to 100 days.
• AI models are trained using dopamine for positive reinforcement and electrical signals for negative reinforcement, mimicking natural neural processes.
• FinalSpark claims these biocomputers could be up to 100,000 times more efficient for AI training than traditional silicon-based technology.
• The organoids and their behaviour are live streamed 24/7, which you can access here.

Why it matters: AI is an energy-hungry industry, and alleviating its dependence on CPUs and GPUs is generally a step in the right direction. That said, using brain organoids for biocomputing is completely uncharted territory and is bound to raise ethical concerns — such as the sci-fi possibility that cell masses somehow achieve consciousness.

California compromises on AI safety bill

The News: California’s SB 1047, an aggressive AI safety bill aimed at preventing AI disasters, just got significantly revised to address concerns raised by AI companies like Anthropic and open-source developers.

The details:

• The bill no longer allows California’s attorney general to sue AI companies for negligent safety practices before a catastrophic event occurs.
• AI labs are now only required to submit public “statements” about their safety practices vs certifications “under penalty of perjury.”
• Likewise, developers must now provide “reasonable care” vs “reasonable assurance” that AI models do not pose significant risks.
• The bill is headed to California’s Assembly floor for a final vote.

Why it matters: There’s a fine line between advancing technological progress and mitigating potential existential risks that governments are navigating — and California is showing that regulation can be practical and adaptive. These changes are a big step towards fostering responsible AI development through collaborative governance.

AI Tongue Scanner Transforms Healthcare

The News: A new AI tongue scanner, developed by researchers from Iraq and Australia, can diagnose diseases with up to 98% accuracy by analyzing tongue images, merging traditional Chinese medicine with cutting-edge AI technology.

The details:

• The AI model is trained on 5,260 images, covering a range of tongue colors and textures, including data from Iraqi hospitals.
• It can detect diseases like diabetes, cancer, and severe COVID-19 based on tongue color, achieving a 96.6% accuracy rate in tests, with overall accuracy exceeding 98%.
• Key indicators include a yellow tongue for diabetes, purple for cancer, and red for severe COVID-19.
• Future applications include smartphone integration for instant health assessments, though challenges remain in data privacy and diagnostic precision.

Why it matters: This AI-powered diagnostic tool could democratize healthcare by providing a cost-effective, non-invasive, and widely accessible method for early disease detection. By combining traditional practices with modern AI, this technology could help bridge the gap in healthcare access, particularly in underserved areas. The potential to integrate this technology into everyday devices like smartphones also highlights the growing trend of AI-driven personal health monitoring, making advanced diagnostics available to more people globally.

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QUICK HITS

Claude introduced a new screenshot capture button, allowing users to easily include images from their screen in prompts.

Rebellions and Sapeon, South Korean AI chip makers, signed a definitive merger agreement to challenge global leaders like Nvidia.

Bzigo launched Iris, an AI-powered mosquito detector that tracks and marks mosquitoes with a laser pointer for easy swatting.

Coinbase started a $15,000 accelerator grant program for projects combining AI with crypto wallets to enable economic participation.

Microsoft unveiled PowerToys Workspaces, a new feature to auto-arrange apps, plus an AI-powered copy-paste tool with OpenAI API integration.

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