First data center powered by human brain cells launched in Singapore

The complexity of modern computing operations and the energy consumption of data centers around the world are already beyond all reasonable limits, especially with the explosive growth of artificial intelligence. The International Energy Agency (IEA) states that electricity consumption in data centers increased by 17 percent last year alone. In response to these challenges, the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), in collaboration with DayOne and Cortical Labs, has created something completely unconventional. This is the first biological data center.

The system is housed at the NUS Institute of Life Sciences and consists of a single server rack with 20 CL1 biological computing units. Each unit contains 800,000 lab-grown human brain cells, meaning the entire structure is powered by 16 million living neurons. It is the world's first independently managed biologically integrated server array.

Unlike traditional data centers, which rely on silicon processors, air or water cooling, and process clouds and databases, this technology uses so-called “wet hardware.” A biological neuron is condensed from stem cells and connected to traditional computer hardware via microelectrode arrays. These arrays enable the flow of electrical signals between the digital system and the biological cells.

Living cells require precisely controlled living conditions, care, and a biologist-friendly environment under expert guidance. Any failure to maintain the proper conditions can result in the death of the entire computational neural system.

However, the potential benefits of such a system are enormous. Biological systems can operate with a fraction of the energy consumed by conventional computers. According to Cortical Labs, neurons can learn from very limited amounts of data and adapt to changes in their environment. The team demonstrated the system using real-time neural activity to more than 80 guests at a special presentation in early August.