Scientists Trying To Merge Human Brain Cells With Computer Chips For Advanced AI

Could a computer chip merged with human brain cells become a reality? Australian military is currently funding the same in hopes of combining it with artificial intelligence.

According to FreeThink, the Australian military is currently funding a project to grow intelligent "mini-brains" in petri dishes. Their goal is to use these "DishBrains" to create better AI tools and hopefully combine the too. This would essentially create AIs capable of processing information just like human brain cells.

Unsplash

Creating "organoids"

Scientists can create "organoids" in lab settings. These are three-dimensional tissues that can resemble the structure of different organs, including the brain. While these aren't as sophisticated as full-fledged organs, they can still contain neurons.

Researchers are Monash University and Cortical Labs recently received $400,000 from Australia's National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants programme. It will attempt to find a way around AI algorithms that suffer catastrophic forgetting.

Often, AI tools forget what they previously learned, unlike the human brain. Overcoming this can create extremely smart AI systems. "We will be using this grant to develop better AI machines that replicate the learning capacity of these biological neural networks," said lead researcher Adeel Razi.

Unsplash

Also read: Elon Musk's Neuralink Brain Chip Gets FDA Approval For Human Trials

Over time, researchers want to replace traditional silicon computer chips with organoids to create smart biocomputers. Over this foundation, they intend to use AI.

"The human neuron is self-programming, infinitely flexible, the result of four billion years of evolution," Cortical's website states. "What digital models try and emulate, we begin with." It might be decades before such a system becomes operable, but when it happens, things will change tremendously.

Unsplash

Also read: First-Of-Its Kind Computer Chip Transmits Data Via Sound Waves, Researchers Claim

What do you think about the potential of AI and the scope of organoid intelligence? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.