Wetware: Scientists Use Human Mini-Brains to Power the Future of Computing

: Scientists Use Human Mini-Brains to Power the Future of Computing

Discover how biocomputing, or “wetware,” uses living human brain cells to create energy-efficient processors that could transform artificial intelligence and computing forever.

The Dawn of Living Computers

In a quiet lab in Vevey, Switzerland, researchers are taking computing to an entirely new level — one that’s alive. Instead of relying on traditional silicon chips, scientists are using human mini-brains to perform computing tasks. This revolutionary field, known as biocomputing or wetware technology, seeks to harness the raw, energy-efficient power of biological neurons to reshape the future of artificial intelligence (AI).

As the world faces increasing energy demands from supercomputers and AI systems, wetware may offer a more sustainable path forward — one where computers think not with transistors, but with living neurons.

What Is Wetware or Biocomputing?

“Wetware” refers to using biological material — in this case, living human brain cells — as a computing medium. Unlike traditional hardware, these living processors are capable of learning, adapting, and communicating in ways that mimic natural brain activity.

At the forefront of this breakthrough is FinalSpark, a Swiss startup building bioprocessors powered by human brain organoids. Co-founder Fred Jordan believes that wetware could one day replace silicon chips as the backbone of advanced computing systems like those driving ChatGPT and other AI tools.

“Instead of trying to mimic, let’s use the real thing,” Jordan said.

This statement encapsulates the philosophy behind wetware — why simulate intelligence when you can tap into the genuine computational architecture nature designed?

How Wetware Works: Inside the Living Processor

Step 1: From Skin Cells to Brain Cells

FinalSpark begins by purchasing stem cells derived from human skin cells donated anonymously. These stem cells are then transformed into neurons, the building blocks of the human brain.

Step 2: Creating Brain Organoids

The neurons are grouped into tiny clusters called brain organoids, each just a few millimeters wide — roughly the size of a fruit fly’s brain.

Step 3: Powering the Processor

Electrodes are attached to these organoids, allowing scientists to both monitor and stimulate brain activity. When the organoids respond to electrical stimulation, they generate signals similar to binary data — 1s and 0s — that can be used in computing tasks.

Unlike silicon chips, these bioprocessors are alive, meaning they require nutrients and constant care. If they die, there’s no “reboot” — they must be regrown in the lab.

The Promise: Energy Efficiency and AI Advancement

One of the biggest advantages of wetware computing is its energy efficiency. According to Fred Jordan, biological neurons are one million times more energy-efficient than artificial ones. This could dramatically reduce the environmental impact of AI training, which currently consumes massive amounts of energy.

With global tech giants like NVIDIA and Google DeepMind competing for scarce AI hardware, biocomputing offers a potential solution: infinitely reproducible, renewable biological processors.

Global Collaboration: Universities Exploring Wetware

The biocomputing movement is not limited to Switzerland. Around ten universities worldwide are partnering with FinalSpark to explore wetware applications.

At the University of Bristol, researcher Benjamin Ward-Cherrier even used an organoid to power a robot that could distinguish between different Braille letters — an early glimpse into how wetware could power intelligent robotics.

Meanwhile, at Johns Hopkins University in the U.S., Dr. Lena Smirnova is using similar brain organoids to study neurological disorders like autism and Alzheimer’s disease, with hopes of discovering new treatments.

These efforts show that wetware has enormous potential not only for AI and computing but also for medical research and neuroscience.

Ethical and Philosophical Concerns

A central question in biocomputing research is whether these mini-brains could ever develop consciousness. While all scientists involved deny that possibility — citing the organoids’ small neuron count (about 10,000 compared to the human brain’s 100 billion) — ethical concerns persist.

To ensure responsible research, FinalSpark collaborates with bioethicists to evaluate the implications of using living brain tissue for computation.

Jordan acknowledges:

“This is at the edge of philosophy.”

For now, researchers assure the public that these organoids lack pain receptors and are incapable of self-awareness.

The Challenges of Wetware Technology

Despite the excitement, biocomputing is still in its infancy. Challenges include:

Short lifespan of organoids (up to six months)
Difficulty in encoding and decoding data
Need for specialized lab environments
Limited processing power compared to silicon chips

However, researchers remain optimistic that within 20 years, wetware could evolve from an experimental curiosity to a core computing technology — just as AI and machine learning did a decade ago.

The Future of Living Computers

Imagine a future where your smartphone, AI assistant, or autonomous robot is powered by living neurons — processors that think, adapt, and learn like the human brain. That’s the vision behind biocomputing.

FinalSpark’s live neuron feed, available on its official website, already shows organoids reacting to stimuli in real time — an astonishing window into the frontier of science.

This research may not only revolutionize computing but also help humanity better understand the mystery of consciousness itself.

Biocomputing is more than science fiction — it’s happening now. Stay informed about the latest in AI, neuroscience, and wetware research by following credible sources like Nature and Scientific American.

If you’re passionate about the future of technology, explore FinalSpark’s live experiments or subscribe to AI research updates from leading institutions.

Conclusion

Wetware computing is redefining what it means to process information. By merging biology and technology, scientists are pushing the boundaries of both human understanding and machine intelligence.

While it’s still early days, one thing is clear — the computers of tomorrow may not just be smart; they might be alive.