this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2026
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A Biological Data Centre represents a new generation of computing infrastructure. Instead of relying solely on conventional silicon chips, it uses “wetware” — living biological neurons derived from stem cells — to process information and support AI systems. In contrast to traditional data centres, which depend on energy-intensive servers, biological computing offers the potential for significantly greater efficiency by harnessing brain-like organoids that can operate using only a fraction of the power required by digital computers.

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[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 6 points 6 days ago

16 mano-neters?

[–] sunbeam60@feddit.uk 5 points 6 days ago

So deeply unethical it’s unreal.

[–] hirihit640@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 days ago

hooks it up to speakers

"ahhhAAAaahAhhh"

scientists: "hmm something must be bugged, let me fiddle with it some more"

[–] skulkbane@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

Aww yeah, screaming datacenter timeline unlocked.

[–] Kazumara@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 6 days ago

I reject the notion of calling this a data center. A single rack with 20 little pods is not a data center.

They just want to be a data center, because data centers are currently on investor minds.

[–] brownsugga@lemmy.world 98 points 1 week ago (3 children)
[–] OpenStars@discuss.online 12 points 1 week ago

This will in no way come back to "haunt" us...

[–] driftwood@lemmy.zip 81 points 1 week ago (1 children)

They should use the neurons of the tech oligarchs if they’re so smart.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 68 points 1 week ago (1 children)

They'll have to add ketamine to the bionutrient slurry.

[–] SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.social 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That’s my breakfast smoothie.

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[–] Fandangalo@lemmy.world 71 points 1 week ago

I was there. They let me take a picture of the tech.

[–] NathanRanch@lemmy.zip 62 points 1 week ago (1 children)

As grim as it sounds, this is probably just a grift. It sounds like they're using stem cells as wires, and they'll die eventually. There's some ai word salad in the article too.

[–] technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

This is definitely a grift.

it uses "wetware" ... to process information and support "AI" systems

Most importantly, "AI" doesn't exist. Secondly there is absolutely zero "AI" technologies that need "support" from these petri dishes.

the technology could complement AI

Hmmm... Later in the article it changes from "it uses to support AI" to "it could complement AI". Curious.

Actually the first quote from OP isn't even in the article. Did they update it because it's fake?

[–] SuspiciousCarrot78@aussie.zone 57 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

Ah these guys. Weren't they the ones using electo shock therapy on their "organoids" to "teach" (force) them to play Doom?

https://hwbusters.com/news/human-brain-cells-on-a-chip-learned-to-play-doom-in-a-week/

And didn't said organoids mysteriously "fire" the moment someone walked into the lab?

https://www.sciencealert.com/brain-tissue-grown-in-the-lab-produces-brainwaves-resemblings-pre-term-babies

Nah, it'll be fine.

Hey, here's a cool idea. Why not take "samples" from "neurodivergent" children (let's say... 1500cm^3... throw in some spinal cord), finely sliced, and bathe them in Adderal, Dr Fucking Mengele. Just think how "on task" the compute will be!

In fairness, the ScienceAlert piece notes that if any start to show signs of consciousness, they will "consider" shutting the project down.

Which is reassuring in the way that a fire extinguisher on a rocket is reassuring.

PS: sorry if I was unclear. STOP FUCKING CREATING BRAINS IN A VAT, YOU FUCKING MONSTERS.

[–] Toga77@lemmy.world 32 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

"if they show signs of consciousness we'll shut it down" is so absolutely batshit especially when you consider people like me learned while in school that fish don't feel any pain.

We were extremely confidently incorrect about that one.....

This is fucking abhorrent.

[–] soyslurper2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 points 1 week ago

They were also engineered to be deficient in a protein that's essential for the normal function of neurons.

Given the careful engineering of the organoids to inhibit normal function, the researchers are not worried at this stage. However, if any start to show signs of consciousness, they will consider shutting the project down.

Making them stupid so they don't appear "human" 🫩

[–] myyass@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Heh the angel of death got to live out a full life. I mentioned this in another post; don't be surprised if your brain gets cross sectioned and scanned before being cremated.

[–] SuspiciousCarrot78@aussie.zone 13 points 1 week ago (2 children)

You sure we haven't been already?

[–] Monument@piefed.world 10 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Ah. This is a simulation.

We must have done something heinous in “the real.”

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[–] Armand1@lemmy.world 55 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Lovely. Man-made horrors beyond our comprehension.

[–] inari@piefed.zip 13 points 1 week ago

I think that's true in a very literal sense

[–] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 46 points 1 week ago
[–] chahn.chris@piefed.social 42 points 1 week ago

Dear humanity,

Consider maybe not.

Thanks,
-A Human

[–] uairhahs@lemmy.world 34 points 1 week ago
[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 34 points 1 week ago

This research will be funding Chairs at university Ethics departments for decades to come.

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 32 points 1 week ago

New grift just dropped

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 24 points 1 week ago

Yay, torment nexus, and if it isn't yet, it will be soon.

[–] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 22 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Behold, the incredibly efficient human. It eats garbage, live about 80 years, adapts to any fucking environment….

Yea but it’s just not expensive enough.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

You forgot: can be mass produced using unskilled labour

[–] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Unskilled!? how dare you

Edit: checked with previous encounters and ... Yeah you are correct.

[–] PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca 17 points 1 week ago (2 children)

In the grimdark present of humanity...

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[–] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip 17 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Anyone else read this:

Brain cells at work Traditional data centers rely on silicon processors and general-purpose Central Processing Units (CPUs). They typically use standard air cooling to handle cloud computing, web hosting, and database storage workloads.

Biological computing, in contrast, uses wetware to process data. This consists of living neurons grown from stem cells. The neurons are connected to computing hardware via microelectrode arrays. These let electrical signals pass between the biological cells and digital systems.

And wonder what they were trying to say or why they said it this way?

Here is the part in question:

They typically use standard air cooling to handle cloud computing, web hosting, and database storage workloads.

Biological computing, in contrast, uses wetware to process data.

Ok, AND? What does air cooling have to do with anything? Is wetware NON standard air cooling?

Either way, isnt this the section where you say Traditional Data Centers rely on electricity, and these rely on X, Y or Z? Nutrient baths? Sump pumps?

[–] WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 12 points 6 days ago

They copy-pasted part of the wikipedia to explain something they don't really understand.

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[–] HotsauceHurricane@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Oh so they are aiming for that evangelion shit . Cool cool cool Cool cool cool Cool cool cool

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[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 week ago

This was signed off by an ethics review board...

[–] yardratianSoma@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 week ago (1 children)

yo hold up, wetware is an actual thing? Since fucking when?

[–] WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 2 points 6 days ago

Quite some time now. Idk why they bother with making baby brains, when we have mostly functioning brains they can extract from us for cheap, to put into their kill and sex bots.

[–] FaceDeer@fedia.io 10 points 1 week ago

I'm sure people will approach this news story in a sane and well-reasoned manner.

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