This $35K Biocomputer Runs on Human Brain Cells

What if your next computer didn't just mimic a brain… but was one?

Welcome to the CL1: the world's first commercial biocomputer powered by real, living human neurons. Built by Aussie startup Cortical Labs, this Frankenstein machine mashes up neurotechnology and silicon to create something wild — a thinking chip that learns like a brain.

Yes, it's real. Yes, it costs $35,000. And yes, you can rent it for$300 a week. Forget ChatGPT — this thing literally plays Pong with actual brain cells.

Brain meets chip

The CL1 blends synthetic intelligence and biology. Lab-grown neurons sit on a silicon substrate, hooked up to electrodes. These cells — alive, firing, adapting — receive data, process it, and respond in real time. It's not just mimicking thought. It is thought.

Inside, it runs on a custom OS called biOS (no, not a joke). And unlike your GPU farm, this thing's green. It learns with a fraction of the power big AI models guzzle.

Why it matters

This isn't about playing video games with brain soup. The CL1 could rewrite AI training, revolutionize drug discovery, and turbocharge neurological research. Think modeling diseases like epilepsy with actual neurons — or testing drugs before human trials.

And yeah, it raises a few Black Mirror questions. Like: can brain cells feel pain? What counts as consciousness? And what happens when your computer gets too smart?

The future is squishy

Whether this is the dawn of brain-powered computing or just a freaky science flex, one thing's clear: AI's next frontier might not be more silicon — it might be us.

Oh, and in case you're wondering: no, it doesn't run Windows.

Want to play God with 800,000 brain cells? There's a waitlist.