Lab-Grown Neurons: Singapore’s First Biological Datacentre for Sustainable AI

Singapore is poised to become a testing ground for a radical shift in data processing, moving beyond traditional silicon-based systems to explore “wetware” computing – using living biological neurons to power artificial intelligence workloads. A collaboration between Singapore-headquartered data centre provider DayOne and Melbourne-based biocomputing startup Cortical Labs will establish the nation’s first Biological Data Centre, a pioneering facility outside of Australia. This initiative signals a potential step towards more sustainable and energy-efficient AI infrastructure, particularly as global demand for data centre capacity surges.

From Pong-Playing Cells to Sustainable Computing

The project builds on Cortical Labs’ earlier work with “DishBrain,” a system that successfully taught a network of 800,000 in-vitro brain cells to play the arcade game Pong within just five minutes. Published in 2022, the DishBrain project demonstrated the capacity of biological neurons to learn and adapt, even without conventional programming. This differs significantly from traditional computing, which relies on neural networks – algorithms designed to mimic brain function – rather than actual biological intelligence. Cortical Labs’ approach leverages the inherent efficiency of biological cells, which naturally seek to reduce unpredictability in their environment, allowing them to learn with remarkable speed and minimal energy consumption.

The Singapore facility, initially located at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), will begin as a prototype. Researchers will culture and grow cells under the supervision of Rickie Patani, a professor and director of the neurobiology programme at the NUS Life Sciences Institute, to test the system’s viability for complex research applications. “Wetware systems can help researchers explore new approaches to learning, adaptation and biological modelling,” said Patani. “Our expertise in neurobiology research…provides a strong foundation for translating these biological principles into biocomputing platforms.”

The Energy Equation: Why Wetware Matters

The drive towards biological computing is fueled by the escalating energy demands of traditional data centres. Global datacentre capacity is projected to reach 200 GW by 2030, with power demand in Southeast Asia expected to quadruple from 2.6 GW in 2025 to 10.7 GW by 2035. This growth is largely driven by the increasing computational needs of AI. Conventional data centres consume vast amounts of energy, generating significant heat and contributing to carbon emissions. Biological systems, in contrast, operate with dramatically lower energy requirements and minimal heat generation. The potential for energy savings is a key factor driving interest in wetware computing.

DayOne, a data centre provider that recently secured $2 billion in Series C funding, is betting on this shift. The company is as well reportedly preparing for a US IPO to raise $5 billion at a potential valuation of $20 billion, according to reports from Reuters and Bloomberg. The partnership with Cortical Labs allows DayOne to explore a new computing paradigm that aligns with Singapore’s sustainability goals. “Singapore has made it clear that the next chapter of digital infrastructure must be built with sustainability at the core,” said Hon Weng Chong, founder of Cortical Labs. “AI is moving from novelty to necessity…but the region’s energy and water realities are forcing a reckoning.”

Beyond Proof-of-Concept: Scaling Wetware

Following the validation phase at NUS, the collaboration will move to a live deployment environment within a DayOne commercial data centre in Singapore. This will involve testing the wetware systems under real-world workloads, assessing their compatibility with standard power distribution, environmental management, and cooling infrastructure. If successful, the partners are considering a phased expansion, potentially deploying up to 1,000 Cortical Cloud units. Each unit currently houses 20 Cortical Cloud units, the company’s biological computing platform.

The prototype will initially consist of a single rack housing 20 Cortical Cloud units. These units will be tested for applications such as drug discovery and neurological disease research, where the ability to run experiments on brain-like biological networks alongside conventional computing could accelerate research cycles. The potential to accelerate hypothesis testing and translate laboratory insights into real-world impact is a significant driver for this research.

Challenges and Considerations

While the potential benefits of biological computing are significant, several challenges remain. Maintaining the viability and stability of living neurons outside of their natural environment is a complex undertaking. Scaling up production of these biological systems to meet the demands of large-scale data processing will require significant advancements in biomanufacturing and cell culture techniques. The long-term reliability and security of wetware systems require to be thoroughly investigated. The potential for biological contamination and the ethical implications of manipulating living brain cells also require careful consideration.

DayOne’s approach to data centre construction – utilizing pre-fabricated modules produced in a factory setting – may offer a pathway to address some of these challenges. The company claims it can produce up to 2,500 data center modules annually, representing 500 megawatts of capacity. This manufacturing capability could accelerate the deployment of biological computing infrastructure, but it doesn’t address the fundamental biological hurdles.

Looking Ahead: From Prototype to Practicality

The next steps for this collaboration involve rigorous testing and validation of the wetware systems under real-world conditions. The success of the prototype deployment at DayOne’s Singapore data centre will be crucial in determining the feasibility of scaling up this technology. Further research will focus on optimizing cell culture techniques, improving the reliability of biological systems, and addressing the ethical and security concerns associated with wetware computing. The partnership between DayOne and Cortical Labs represents a bold step towards a more sustainable and energy-efficient future for AI, but significant work remains to be done before biological data centres become a widespread reality.