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Cortical Labs Unveils Pilot Biological Data Centers in Melbourne and Singapore

The rollout tests neuron-based CL1 units as an ultra-low-power alternative for AI workloads.

Overview

  • The Melbourne site is slated to house about 120 CL1 units, according to the company.
  • In Singapore, a DayOne-backed program begins with a 20-unit validation rack at NUS’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, with a phased plan that could rise to roughly 1,000 units at a commercial facility.
  • Each CL1 is a multi-electrode chip with roughly 200,000 human neurons derived from blood stem cells that communicate via electrical signals.
  • Cortical Labs says a unit uses less power than a handheld calculator, positioning the approach as a potential way to curb data-center energy use.
  • The systems remain experimental with modest capability despite Pong and Doom demos, and open questions on scalability, maintenance and oversight persist.