Progressing towards all-encompassing artificial intelligence that surpasses human capabilities?
In the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), a new frontier is emerging: organoid intelligence. This groundbreaking development, which combines living brain tissue with machine learning, is raising significant ethical questions and is an area of active scientific progress.
Ethically, the use of organoids in AI development prompts concerns about consciousness, sentience, rights, and biosecurity. Organoids, while not currently conscious or self-aware, could potentially feel pain or develop sentience, leading to discussions about the moral status of these living structures. The boundaries between experimentation and exploitation remain unclear, necessitating ongoing collaboration between researchers and ethicists to develop respectful guidelines and policies addressing consent, ownership, and biosecurity risks such as potential weaponization of organoid networks.
Scientifically, brain organoids are grown from human stem cells into miniature brain-like structures that form neural connections and exhibit early signs of learning and memory. These mini brains have demonstrated the ability to recognize speech, detect patterns, and respond to stimuli, surpassing some traditional AI's flexibility and energy efficiency. Most developments involve hybrid intelligence systems linking these living tissues with machine learning, aiming to create biological co-processors that aid simulations, drug discovery platforms, and adaptive robotics.
Leading the charge in this field is Cortical Labs, whose paper under review compares the organoid intelligence pathway to bio-engineered intelligence. The lab has developed a dedicated Application Programming Interface (API) for remote research on brain organoids and a shoe-box sized device for researchers to run tests on brain material. A new paper led by the head of biology at Cortical Labs showed that treating their Dishbrain with anti-epileptic medications could restore learning function.
Other researchers, such as Safagh Waters and Brett Kagan, are pushing the boundaries further. Waters, part of the Non-Animal Technologies Network (NAT-Net) in NSW, is testing the "crosstalk" between brain and gut organoids when different bacteria are manipulated. Kagan, the Chief Scientific Officer of Cortical Labs, is working on building a biological computer that can skip past the limitations of artificial intelligence.
However, it's important to note that there is no agreement on what consciousness is, nor how it should be measured, nor what it looks like in terms of brain structure. Causal reasoning, the neural root of tomorrow-dreaming, is a feature that computers cannot replicate.
Innovative platforms like Swiss startup Finalspark are also contributing to this field. Finalspark launched an online platform that allows scientists to conduct remote experiments on 16 living brain organoids. Meanwhile, Julian Savalescu believes that different applications of the technology bring up different ethical considerations.
As organoid intelligence continues to advance, it represents a potential breakthrough that could redefine intelligence modeling, enabling AI systems to learn and create more like humans. However, it's crucial that this progress is guided by ethical considerations to ensure respectful and responsible use of this powerful technology.
[1] Cortical Labs: Advances in Organoid Intelligence Pathway and Bio-Engineered Intelligence Comparison [2] Waters, S.: Crosstalk between Brain and Gut Organoids under Manipulated Bacterial Conditions [3] Kagan, B.: Building a Biologically Intelligent Computer: Ethical Implications and Scientific Progress [4] Finalspark: Online Platform for Remote Experiments on 16 Living Brain Organoids [5] Savalescu, J.: Ethical Considerations in the Use of Mini Brains or Brain Organoids in Artificial Intelligence Development [6] Brunswick Lab: Mini Brain or Mini Hippocampus Growing onto a Tiny Silicon Chip [7] NAT-Net: Promoting Organoids as an Alternative to Animal Testing [8] Unknown Source: One Cortical Neuron has Similar Processing Power to a Multi-layer Deep Neural Network [9] Unknown Source: Finalspark's Teaching Method for Brain Organoids [10] Unknown Source: The Mini Brain is Sending Feelers outwards into its Tiny World
- This scientific advancement in organoid intelligence, through collaborations between biologists and technologists, could potentially impact health-and-wellness by offering novel drug discovery platforms and adaptive robotics.
- As organoid intelligence progresses, technology may evolve to encompass bio-engineered intelligence, raising questions about the ethical implications of sentience, rights, and biosecurity, which are crucial to ensure the responsible use of these technologies in health-and-wellness and science.
