Cortical Labs integrates human neurons into biological computers to play Doom

Australian company Cortical Labs has achieved a new milestone in biocomputing by integrating living human neurons into a biological computer capable of playing the video game Doom. Using their CL1 platform, which features over 200,000 neurons per unit, the researchers established a real-time interface where biological tissue and software interact via electrical impulses.

Unlike traditional players, the neurons receive electrical stimulation patterns representing in-game events and adjust their behavior based on the recorded responses. Scientific director Brett Kagan noted that while teaching neurons to play Pong previously took 18 months, the neurons achieved initial learning in Doom in less than a week. Although the performance currently resembles that of a novice, the ability of the cells to learn from experience in a complex, unpredictable environment marks a significant advancement in the field.