The World's First Commercial Biological Computer

Building on Four Billion Years of Evolution - Organic Intelligence Is Now Programmable on Silicon.

Cortical Labs' CL1 is the first commercial, code-deployable biological computer powered by living human neurons. Building on four billion years of evolution, this self-contained platform enables direct code deployment to living neurons—combining biological learning with digital systems for AI research, drug discovery, and disease modelling without animal testing, while achieving real-time learning with far lower data and energy demands than conventional AI. Developed over six years, CL1 unites lab-grown neural networks with silicon hardware inside a modular, transparent enclosure that requires no external compute. It functions as either a standalone desktop unit or a rack-mounted node for large-scale deployment through the Cortical Cloud. A closed-loop life-support module continuously exchanges fluids, regulates temperature, and filters waste, keeping neuron cultures viable for up to six months. Running the Biological Intelligence Operating System (biOS), CL1 provides bidirectional neural stimulation, real-time monitoring, data visualisation, and direct programming access to the neurons.

Artificial Intelligence Development: Biocomputing Product Design + Engineering

D+I Part of Capgemini, partnered with Cortical Labs to transform a research prototype into a robust, manufacturable product. Every subsystem was engineered for biological compatibility, modularity, and long-term reliability—establishing a new industrial-design model for SBI and ensuring CL1 can scale from lab bench to commercial rollout. Its true impact will unfold as researchers and industry apply SBI across domains—unlocking new modes of discovery, redefining how we compute, and providing an energy-efficient alternative to silicon-based AI in an era of exponential compute demand.

Source: Reuters. (2025, March 6). This computer runs on living human brain cells [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KeC8gxopio

Living Neurons Firing on Silicon

Biological Intelligence: A Self-Organising, Learning, and Energy-Efficient Alternative to Silicon Computing.

At the core of CL1, neurons cultivated from human stem cells grow across a silicon chip inside a nutrient-rich solution, where they form dynamic networks capable of processing information in fundamentally new ways. These living neural networks demonstrate learning and adaptability beyond conventional AI—actively shaping their digital environment through electrical impulses that respond to and modify incoming data in real-time. This direct interface opens unprecedented opportunities for understanding how biological systems process information. Medical and research labs can now study authentic human neural responses without animal testing, yielding more relevant data for drug discovery and disease modeling while advancing our understanding of cognitive science. The platform's "Wetware-as-a-Service" model extends these capabilities globally, allowing researchers to access biological neural networks remotely or deploy standalone devices in their own facilities—democratizing access to this revolutionary technology.

From Research to Deployment

Design. Develop. Deploy. From prototype to commercial system, advancing computing, science, and medical research.

Creating the world's first commercial biological computer required the team to address unprecedented challenges across biology, hardware, and usability. The transformation from fragile lab prototype to robust product demanded solutions for maintaining neural viability, integrating digital-biological interfaces, and enabling reliable bi-directional stimulation—all within a system that researchers could operate without specialized training. This design maturity has enabled Cortical Labs to establish not just a product, but an entirely new market category for Synthetic Biological Intelligence. The platform's true impact will emerge as it challenges fundamental assumptions about how intelligence is built, how therapies are tested, and how future computing systems will operate—setting a precedent for translating emerging science into tools that advance human knowledge while respecting ethical boundaries.

The resulting design achieves this through precision engineering at every level. The MEA Headstage features a single locking mechanism that allows researchers to access the electrode dish for neural network evaluation without compromising sterility or disrupting life support. Its 61-pogo-pin array ensures precise electrical bonding critical for data integrity, while embedded heating maintains optimal temperatures for neural survival. The pre-assembled tubeset streamlines setup through a carrier system with front-access ports, incorporating complex fluidic architecture that interfaces seamlessly with pumps, filtration, and custom gas mixing chambers. CL1 undercuts traditional electrophysiology systems while delivering entirely novel functionality. Its shoebox-sized transparent enclosure makes the revolutionary visible—allowing researchers to observe living neurons processing information in real-time.

CL1 The world’s first code deployable biological computer

Artificial Actual Intelligence. Think beyond silicon.

Test how lab-grown neurons process and learn.

To learn more, visit corticallabs.com