Blending AI and Biology: Monash University's Innovative Approach to Machine Learning

Researchers at Monash University have recently been awarded a grant of $600,000 AUD to cultivate human brain cells on silicon chips, blending artificial intelligence and synthetic biology to create programmable biological computing platforms.

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Led by Associate Professor Adeel Razi, the project involves the symbiosis of organic brain cells and inorganic silicon, forming an innovative biological-technological interface.

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The team aims to develop AI systems capable of continuous learning throughout their lifetime, a feat existing AI systems struggle to achieve, focusing on fostering "continual lifelong learning" in AI systems.

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The grant will support the development of advanced AI systems that emulate the learning capacity of these biological neural networks, potentially substituting traditional in silico computing.

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By aligning AI with biological learning mechanisms, the researchers hope to reduce resource consumption, including energy, memory, and computational power.

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The project collaborates with Melbourne-based startup, Cortical Labs, emphasizing the importance of industry-academic partnerships.

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Funded by the Australian National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants Program, the research could potentially lead to a revolutionary new field of study as synthetic biology and AI have never been integrated this closely before.

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If successful, this research could set a precedent for using synthetic biology to enhance machine learning and AI applications, potentially transforming the way we approach machine learning.

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