Human Brain Cells Power Latest Data Centers in Singapore and Melbourne

A groundbreaking partnership between Singapore-based DayOne Data Centers and Australia’s Cortical Labs is pioneering a new era of sustainable computing, utilizing living human brain cells to power data centers in Singapore and Melbourne. This innovative approach, dubbed “wetware” computing, aims to address the growing energy demands and environmental concerns associated with traditional AI-driven data centers.

The Rise of Biological Computing

Cortical Labs is developing biological computers known as CL1 units, which are powered by neurons grown from human stem cells. Instead of relying on silicon chips, these units utilize the natural processing capabilities of brain cells, offering a potentially more energy-efficient alternative to conventional processors. The company has already demonstrated the ability to train these neurons to play complex video games like Pong and Doom Bloomberg.

Singapore and DayOne Data Centers Lead the Way

The collaboration with DayOne Data Centers marks the first deployment of this technology outside of Australia. DayOne will provide capital and strategic input, while Cortical Labs will lead the development of a wetware computing prototype in Singapore. The project will also involve collaboration with the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) to cultivate the biological neurons Business Times.

Sustainability and Efficiency

The initiative comes as Singapore strengthens its sustainability standards for data centers, making at least 200 MW of new capacity available under tighter environmental guardrails. The government’s Green Data Center Roadmap emphasizes energy efficiency and the adoption of greener energy pathways Business Times. Cortical Labs’ CL1 units consume significantly less power than traditional GPUs – reportedly 30 watts compared to up to 6,000 watts Capital Brief.

Phased Deployment and Future Outlook

The initial deployment will involve a single rack of 20 Cortical Cloud units at NUS, with plans to expand to a full-scale DayOne commercial data center in Singapore. The partners envision a phased expansion potentially reaching up to 1,000 biological compute units, pending regulatory approvals and technical validation Business Times.

“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 & CEO of Cortical Labs. “This partnership is about giving policymakers and industry a practical alternative: a sustainable pathway to AI adoption that aims to decouple compute growth from a resource footprint.” Capital Brief.

DayOne’s Expansion

This initiative coincides with DayOne’s broader expansion plans, including a potential US IPO targeting up to $5 billion and recent funding rounds exceeding $2 billion earmarked for hyperscale campuses across Asia and Europe Business Times.