Could data centres use human brain cells to process information?
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Read the original article: https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/04/04/can-brain-cells-run-computers-this-star…
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16 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.
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Insufficient Evidence
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“What previously required months or years of specialised lab work can now be done in hours or days thanks to its integrated platform.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in cross-references, web search, or Wikipedia to support the claim about lab work time reduction.
“An Australian start-up says it has created the world’s first device that allows users to 'run code' on living human brain cells.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in cross-references, web search, or Wikipedia to confirm Cortical Labs' claim about running code on brain cells.
“Cortical Labs has developed a system that combines lab-grown neurons with silicon hardware, allowing users to explore applications ranging from neuroscience and disease modelling to robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in cross-references, web search, or Wikipedia to verify the system's applications in neuroscience, robotics, etc.
“The system, CL1, works by growing neurons from stem cells and placing them on chips that can send and receive electrical signals.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in cross-references, web search, or Wikipedia to confirm CL1's neuron growth methodology.
“All you need is a little bit of blood or some skin, and you can generate an indefinite supply of these cells that you can then turn into neurons.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in cross-references, web search, or Wikipedia to support indefinite neuron generation from biological samples.
“The company says it is working on biological computing facilities in Melbourne and Singapore, where multiple units of its system could be deployed and accessed remotely.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia entries provided are unrelated to Cortical Labs' facilities in Melbourne/Singapore. No corroborating evidence found.
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— A brain–computer interface (BCI), sometimes called a brain–machine interface (BMI), is a direct communication link between the brain's electrical activity and an external device, most commonly a compu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain–computer_interface
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain–computer_interface
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wikipedia
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— Heavy metals is a controversial and ambiguous term for metallic elements with relatively high densities, atomic weights, or atomic numbers. The criteria used, and whether metalloids are included, vary…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metals
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metals
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wikipedia
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— In artificial neural networks, recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are designed for processing sequential data, such as text, speech, and time series, where the order of elements is important. Unlike fee…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recurrent_neural_network
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recurrent_neural_network
“Some 120 units of such a system are running a small data centre in Melbourne, Australia, Cortical Labs says.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in cross-references, web search, or Wikipedia to confirm the 120-unit data center in Melbourne.
“While the idea of growing neurons in the lab is not new, what Cortical Labs says it has done differently is to standardise a system that can be used more easily when connecting cell cultures to electronic interfaces, rather than requiring complex, custom-built lab setups.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in cross-references, web search, or Wikipedia to verify standardization of electronic interfaces.
“Interacting with biological neurons in this way could make computing more energy-efficient and adaptable than conventional systems.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in cross-references, web search, or Wikipedia to support energy efficiency claims.
“Using human-derived cells could also have research applications. Because the neurons are grown from donor samples, they may reflect genetic traits, allowing scientists to study how cells respond to different treatments in a lab setting.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in cross-references, web search, or Wikipedia to confirm genetic trait reflection in neurons.
“Traditional silicon-based computers remain far more effective at precise, fast mathematical calculations, Kagan said.”
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“Instead, future systems are likely to integrate biological and silicon-based approaches to achieve capabilities that neither could deliver alone, the co-founder said.”
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“If you are only using a flat network of human neurons, I do not believe it would have any major advantages compared to traditional silicon-based systems.”
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“Three-dimensional brain-like structures, known as organoids, could offer greater potential, although these remain experimental.”
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“The use of human cells in computing raises ethical questions, although researchers say the level of concern depends on the complexity of the system.”
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“Cortical Labs’ approach could offer ethical advantages, including reducing the need for animal testing and allowing greater control over biological systems.”
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Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.