The Brain in the Server Rack: Why Biological Computers Are the Next Big Thing (And Why They Aren't Here Yet)
Imagine a supercomputer that rivals the world’s fastest systems but runs on the energy of a dim lightbulb. It sounds like science fiction, but in labs from Australia to Switzerland, it is quickly becoming science fact. We are entering the era of Biological Computing—using living human neurons instead of silicon chips to process information. It’s a technology that promises to solve the massive energy crisis facing our data centers, but it comes with a strange new set of problems: these computers need to be fed, they produce waste, and—most hauntingly—they might one day have feelings. Here is a look at where this technology stands today, and why you won’t be buying a "brain-powered" laptop anytime soon. The Problem: Silicon is Hungry To understand why scientists are growing "brains in dishes," you have to look at the power bill. The Silicon Reality: A cutting-edge supercomputer like Frontier consumes roughly 21 megawatts of power. The Biological Re...
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