The CL1: the first code deployable biological computer | Hacker News Reader

The CL1: the first code deployable biological computer

corticallabs.com

54 pointssprawl_24 comments

This has been posted a few times and looks intriguing, but as far as we can tell, the only there-there is a signup list.

For a good HN thread, we should probably wait until the product is available—or at least for more information?

Edit: looks like there was some sort of earlier discussion at:

Melbourne startup launches 'biological computer' made of human brain cells - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43261218 - March 2025 (37 comments)

The comments are pretty generic, which is the sort of thread we get in the absence of more significant information, so I think waiting is probably the right call. Disagreement is welcome though!

> there only there-there is a signup list.

Words detected; semantics not found.

Whoops! that should have read "the only there-there". (Fixed now.)

Not sure how much more sense that makes but it's at least what I meant to write :)

Can't wait for the inevitable "this blog is hosted on human brain cells" HN post when someone actually gets their hands on one of these.

"Real neurons" but whose neurons are they sourcing? And are all neurons born equal? Should we have a NeuronArena where people submit samples for eval?

@dang, agreed that the product cannot be discussed on technical merits as of now, but I suggest some of the ancillary topics (irrelevant of their technical implementation) such as neuron sourcing might be worth opening.

Since one batch of neurons is expected to survive "up to 6 months", there should be a way to reload it with new neurons. So neuron sourcing should be a recurring concern. The site says: «Real neurons are cultivated inside a nutrient rich solution, supplying them with everything they need to be healthy. They grow across a silicon chip»; this seems to mean that replacing the neurons would require special skills and knowledge, and maybe even a service contract.

See those three fluid inlets on the back in the render? Or what look a lot like quick-disconnect hose fittings, at least, and no wonder; this is among other things a life support system for brain tissue, and will minimally need to maintain hydration and exhaust waste. Operating the machine at all will certainly require engineering and environmental services only feasibly available in a professionally staffed and maintained laboratory.

That is one of the reasons why the "buy" CTA dispatches to a contact form. They can and must vet potential customers.

Yes, this is a given. I mean that replacing neurons may require a specific knowledge of this machine, and procedures unique to it.

If I were to create such a machine, I'd make the whole top part replaceable, with the bottom part electronic-only. When your neuron culture runs its course, you detach the top part and ship it back to the maker, and buy a new one, with a fresh culture, at a discount. They recycle the top parts by cleaning them and re-populating them with new neurons. The sourcing liability is on them, as is quality control.

Oh, I see what you mean. Something like a packaged eluter for short-lived medical isotopes, sure, that makes sense.

Sorry, gotta get home to feed my computer!

Ah man, the computer wet the desk again...

... and ate my homework

grown-up tamagotchi.

The Thought Emporium, a YouTube channel, has some videos that demonstrate how something like this could be built:

Growing Rat neurons to play DOOM (unfinished): part 1 -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEXefdbQDjw; part 2 -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-pWliufu6U

Growing human neurons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2YDApNRK3g

Isn't it weird that they don't actually show what you can do with it?

I mean, I guess they have some capabilities mentioned in papers a few pages back in their website, but it doesn't pass the skink test of, "OK, show me how it works."

IDK, give me an actual code snippet right on the front page, or shut up.

I'm obviously not the target audience, but their marketing is aligned with the sort of "we made this look pretty because we want as many people remotely interested as possible to buy this thing."

Otherwise it could have been a lot more plain, and people seeking out this sort of technology would have found it.

Very interesting, I had to re-read it a few times to make sure it was real and not some elaborate prank. I actually wrote a Philosophy paper where there was a computer that had a biological component, and this is almost exactly what I had in mind, very neat to see that there is a company out there making it.

> the first code deployable biological computer

First? C'mon, Anodyne was doing this back in the mid-80s[1]!

[1]: https://www.mysteryfleshpitnationalpark.com/post/63769988673...

Hey, I recognize that robot! That was the Heathkit, wasn't it?

Also covered in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txtDpCLHUkU

We got bio-neural gel packs before GTA 6. Or Half Life 3.

From the website:

> In vitro neurons learn and exhibit sentience when embodied in a simulated gameworld

I can't tell if this whole thing is an art project or a real product.

It could very well be a brazen scam.

I can't tell how much computing power this machine has

What in the black mirror...

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