AI Models Inspired by Rat Brains Are Now One Step Closer to Becoming a Reality

A biological computing startup harnessing neural patterns from rat brain cells to develop artificial intelligence has received a significant endorsement from Amazon.

Beginning Tuesday, select customers of Amazon Web Services will have early access to The Biological Computing Company’s “rat brain” AI model as part of a limited preview. This innovative technology aims to enhance AI capabilities for video generation. Both Amazon and The Biological Computing Company, or TBC, indicate that broader access for all AWS enterprise customers is anticipated soon.

“We discovered a method to encode information, such as images, into biological materials,” explains TBC cofounder Alexander Ksendzovsky. “We analyze how the biology interprets this information, then create a tool that emulates that process.”

This isn’t Amazon’s first venture into biologically-derived computing platforms, according to Deap Ubhi, global director of technology for startups at Amazon Web Services. Ubhi notes that the cloud giant collaborates with Cortical Labs, based in Australia, which integrates lab-grown neurons with silicon chips to aid in data processing. (Their offerings are referred to as WAAS, or “wetware as a service.”) Cortical Labs also markets a biological computer, a low-power device designed for laboratory use that reportedly sustains neurons for up to six months.

TBC adopts a “pragmatic approach,” according to Ubhi, contributing to its appeal to Amazon. Rather than attempting grand innovations or overhauling established models like transformers—the foundational architecture for large language models—they focus on existing standards in the generative AI landscape and explore ways to enhance current visual models’ efficiency, he clarifies.

A multi-electrode array, utilized by TBC to monitor rat brain cell activity.Courtesy of The Biological Computing Co

As the race intensifies among AI companies to enhance model efficiency, biological computing—once a niche area—has started to gain momentum. Researchers have long dreamed of a future where computer software functions more like the neural networks of the human brain, moving beyond purely mathematical approaches.

However, biological computing presents distinct challenges. It demands the operation of actual biology labs, rather than just computer labs, where brain cells, stem cells, or synthetic biomaterials must be preserved, meticulously monitored, and translated into functional digital information. While some startups have made strides in this arena, bridging the gap between nature and code remains a complex endeavor.

Founded four years ago in Baltimore, Maryland, The Biological Computing Company was established by two neuroscientists and neurosurgeons: Ksendzovsky, who now serves as CEO, and Jon Pomeraniec, the president and COO. Earlier this year, TBC secured $25 million from investors led by Primary Venture Partners, marking its first significant funding round.