!Chinese researchers create a robot that works using real human brain cells
Researchers at Tianjin University in China have developed a humanoid robot that relies on human brain cells, allowing it to process information and perform tasks in a way similar to humans .
The robot uses stem cells embedded with a computer chip, enabling it to learn and adapt to its environment via electrical signals and sensory inputs, enhancing its efficiency and flexibility compared to traditional AI systems .
Researchers believe the technology could help treat neurological conditions by replacing lost neurons, but it also raises ethical questions about the increasing integration of biological and artificial intelligence .
Researchers at Tianjin University in China have announced the development of a humanoid robot that operates using human brain cells , marking a new scientific breakthrough. While the concept may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, the researchers say the brain-powered robot could pave the way for hybrid intelligence between humans and robots.
The new robot has been described as a “brain on a chip,” as it uses stem cells that were intended to develop human brain cells. These cells were integrated with a computer chip through an electrode, enabling the robot to process information and perform a variety of tasks. This system allowed the robot to encode and decode information, allowing it to navigate around obstacles and pick up objects.
The humanoid robot is part of what researchers call “the world’s first open-source system for complex intelligent information interaction using a brain on a chip.” Unlike traditional robots that rely on pre-programmed instructions, this new robot uses its own human brain cells to learn and adapt to its environment.
Despite lacking traditional visual capabilities, it responds to electrical signals and sensory inputs, which guide its movements and actions. Human brain cells help the robot avoid obstacles, track targets, and control its arm movements to grasp objects, all through electrical signals and sensory inputs.
For their part, the researchers stressed that this new development represents more than just a merger of biology and technology; it represents a leap in computational intelligence. Traditional AI systems rely on algorithms and data processing capabilities, which, despite their advancements, are still slower to learn and less capable of intuitive understanding than human brain cells. A biocomputer, on the other hand, is characterized by its ability to learn quickly using little energy, reflecting the efficiency and flexibility of biological systems.
In a similar vein, a similar project known as DishBrain at Monash University in Australia has shown that human neurons can learn tasks much faster than AI. Researchers grew about 800,000 brain cells on a chip, put them in a simulated environment, and watched this unique system learn to play Pong in just five minutes. The project was quickly funded by the Australian military and spawned a company called Cortical Labs.
While humanoid robots with human brain cells are still in their early stages, biocomputers augmented with human neurons show faster learning and lower power consumption than AI machine learning chips, said Brett Kagan, chief scientist at Courtcal Labs. They also offer “more intellect, insight, and creativity.”
It is worth noting that researchers believe that progress in developing humanoid robots equipped with human brain cells could lead to major advances in medical science, especially in the treatment of neurological conditions. One promising application is repairing damage to the human cerebral cortex. By replacing lost neurons and rebuilding neural circuits, doctors may be able to perform brain organoid transplants to restore brain function in patients with neurological damage.
It is also worth noting that despite the promising prospects of this technology, it raises important ethical questions. As the integration of human brain cells into robots advances, the line between biological and artificial intelligence becomes more blurred. Therefore, ensuring the ethical development and use of these technologies will be of paramount importance to the scientific community. In addition, Brett Kagan points out that one of the downsides of these devices is the need to maintain the “wet devices” lined with brain cells, such as providing food and water, controlling temperature, and protecting them from germs and viruses.
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