A Data Centre Rack Running on Living Neurons in Singapore
NUS Medicine, DayOne, and Cortical Labs Collaborate on Biological Computing
NUS Medicine, DayOne, and Cortical Labs have unveiled a groundbreaking prototype in Singapore—a biological data centre rack powered by living human neurons. This innovative project aims to revolutionize AI's power consumption, although specific energy figures are not yet available.
The Prototype
On August 6, the partners demonstrated a rack consisting of 20 CL1 computers, marking the first independently operated biologically integrated server rack globally. The neurons are cultivated from stem cells at the NUS Life Sciences Institute.
Efficiency and Power Savings
The primary focus of this collaboration is electricity conservation. Biological computing is proposed as a method to significantly reduce the power requirements of AI servers compared to traditional silicon-based servers. While the announcement lacks specific data, Cortical Labs' specifications indicate that a single CL1 unit consumes between 850 and 1,000 watts.
A Global Effort
This initiative is not the first to explore biological computing. FinalSpark in Switzerland claims that their biological processors use a million times less energy than digital chips. Similarly, the Netherlands is developing neuromorphic computing chips that mimic neurons.
Applications and Challenges
Cortical Labs aims to target industries such as drug discovery, humanoid robotics, cybersecurity, and fraud detection. However, a significant challenge lies in the biological aspect, as the life support systems for the neurons require maintenance every six months, unlike traditional data centre racks.
Unpublished Metrics
The key metric to validate this technology's effectiveness is watts per useful task, which remains unpublished. Meanwhile, investors are also investing in brain-inspired computing solutions that operate solely on electricity.
By Alina Maria Stan
Alina Maria Stan is a connector who helps people feel authentic connections. As the co-founder and COO of Tekpon, she translates product ideas into reality, shaping how teams discover and adopt SaaS daily. Since 2020, she has led Tekpon's brand voice, media strategy, and growth plays, focusing on human outcomes.
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