The Promise and Peril of Biocomputers: The Computing Revolution We Must Navigate Wisely

We believe we are on the threshold of a computer revolution. However, today's technology have restrictions that limit the inventiveness of every visionary. The unifying denominator underlying this enigmatic obstacle to achieving our greatest aspirations is processing power. AI and the promise of the Metaverse (again, not just VR but all types of realities assisting digital environments and artefacts blending with both our secluded and augmented physical experiences) are both hampered by the current hardware's (silicon systems') capacity to process information. And, just when quantum looked to be a promising accelerator, giving a better and quicker road to AI and Metaverse

progress, a new more bionic option emerges, presenting an intriguing and difficult alternative. Can we, however, morally accept this new development? The irony is that we have only just begun to address the ethical difficulties of mechanically generated generative AI with all of its advantages.

Emerging biotechnologies are ready to usher in a new paradigm in which biological brains created in a lab might fuel AI, Metaverse, and other applications. These live computers, known as biocomputers or lab-grown brains, have the potential to significantly transcend present AI capabilities and even compete with quantum computing in the future. This novel idea takes use of the human brain's unparalleled complexity as nature's greatest computing engine. The brain's wetware, with over 100 billion neurons and trillions of adaptable synaptic connections, remains the gold standard for generalised intelligence. Scientists want to leverage the brain's amazing learning and reasoning skills for our computing requirements by reproducing its enormous neural networks in small under controlled lab conditions.

Early Experiments Show the Potential

Experiments with biocomputers , albeit still in their early phases, show the tantalising promise of this method. Lab-grown neurons have been incorporated into fundamental computational circuits by scientists. These live neural networks have learnt to traverse mazes, play rudimentary video games, and even operate robotic bodies.

Cortical Labs created penny-sized "DishBrains" from mouse brain tissue, each containing around 800,000 neurons. The neural tissue learns to navigate its environment by linking these mini-brains to a robotic body, guiding the robot towards specified locations. This demonstrates how biocomputers may perform difficult real-world tasks like as pathfinding and spatial reasoning.

Other organisations have created more complex human brain organoids that include discrete sections of the brain's structure. Even though they are still immature, these organoids have complicated signalling between neurons and spontaneous neuronal activity that is reminiscent of the brains of premature newborns.

Scientists foresee teaching these lab mini-brains for specialised cognitive tasks as biocomputing platforms progress, similar to how we presently train AI algorithms. Biocomputers, on the other hand, use the learning potential of biological neural networks rather than digital code.

The Digital Revolution: From Binary Systems to Quantum Computing

To grasp the disruptive potential of biocomputers, consider the fast progress of computing in the digital era, from early binary systems to today's quantum computing.

Primitive binary computers of the 1940s and 1950s represented data and instructions using just two states - 1 and 0. The development of silicon chips in the 1990s permitted significantly quicker and more powerful computing. In our contemporary day, quantum computers are developing, exploiting quantum physics events to address issues that are beyond the capability of conventional systems. Each of these waves resulted in exponential increases in computer power.

Where Biocomputers Outperform Quantum Computers

Quantum computers are undeniably powerful, capable of handling difficult problems that would be unsolvable for conventional computers by using quantum features such as superposition and entanglement. They do, however, have limits in terms of scalability, error correction, and energy consumption.

Biocomputers, on the other hand, take a more organic approach to computing . As Singularity Hub points out, biocomputing with mini-brains as processors might eventually outperform AI. This is due to the ability of lab-grown brains to mirror intrinsic human cognitive capacities, enabling more intuitive and adaptable computing.

While not as fast, biocomputers mimic the brain's massively parallel computing architecture. In principle, by increasing the number of neurons simulated, they may acquire processing powers equivalent to quantum computers. And, as Scitech Daily points out, biocomputers are more energy efficient, utilising resources more like the human brain. Biocomputers' smaller carbon footprint may make them a greener choice than energy-hungry quantum mainframes as we progress towards more sustainable technologies.

AI, Metaverse Transformation, and More

Successfully using biocomputers might have a significant influence on AI, the metaverse, and many other domains.

Biocomputers might provide realistic social interactions, emotions, and cognition for metaverse occupants while creating immersive virtual environments . Lab-grown brains may also be used to recreate sensory processing areas in order to deliver realistic responses to virtual avatars. This has the potential to convert static metaverse environments into fully interactive, dynamic social sandboxes.

Biocomputers have potential for increasing natural language processing, common sense thinking, and flexible learning, all of which are areas where AI presently falls short . Lab-grown brains with flexible neurons and synapses might be competent at complex dialogue and broad problem-solving.

Biocomputers in healthcare might model medication reactions for more effective therapies. They might bring fresh insights into tremendously complicated planetary systems for climate modelling. The options are limitless.

Getting Through the Ethical Minefield

However, in addition to the enormous potential, building biocomputers raises serious ethical issues that must be addressed.

Biocomputers, being live brain tissue, have the ability to acquire awareness and suffer . This raises complicated moral quandaries concerning their rights and safeguards, which society must address.

There is also a worry that unmanaged progress would permit unethical applications or usher in a disastrous era of biological computing. To avoid misuse or abuse, governance structures, rules, and laws will be important.

And, if biocomputers achieve sophisticated general intelligence, we will need systems to maintain significant human control to ensure that their aims stay aligned with ours.

Our choices now will determine our future.

Biocomputers, if developed responsibly, have the potential to benefit society in a variety of ways. However, like with any strong technology, we must carefully balance exciting powers with possible drawbacks.

The approaching biocomputer revolution has the potential to empower society widely via democratic supervision, humane ethics, and responsible innovation centred on human dignity. But, as history has shown, even promising technology may intensify our worst inclinations when left uncontrolled.

The metaverse, artificial intelligence, and the general direction of civilization are becoming more dependent on pushing computers beyond silicon to biological substrates. We may usher in an intelligent but compassionate technology future by carefully navigating this unfamiliar region. However, we must act with caution and prudence.

The moment has come for a public discussion. Policymakers, academics, business leaders, and other stakeholders must work together to develop ethical principles and governance for the great potential of biocomputing . We can't just mould new technology to meet current incentives and injustices. Instead, with forethought and purpose, we may influence their development for the greater benefit.

However, these discussions must begin right now. Once a technology has been completely released, it cannot be recalled or restrained. Our decisions now will shape the path we take together in the future. We can harness the tremendous potential of biocomputing via collective bravery and responsibility to build an empowering, egalitarian future that benefits all humankind. The future is yet unwritten, and it is up to us to write it.

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