# Cortical Labs CL1

> Commercial biological computer combining living neurons with silicon chips.

The CL1 is a benchtop biocomputer that integrates lab-grown neurons cultured on a silicon microelectrode array with a life-support system. It allows researchers to deploy code to living biological neural networks and record real-time feedback using Cortical's Biological Intelligence Operating System (biOS). It provides an animal-free, high-efficiency platform for neuroscience, drug discovery, and synthetic biological intelligence research.

Website: https://corticallabs.com/cl1

## What it is for

- Run computational experiments directly on living biological neural networks
- Screen drug compounds and evaluate disease effects on neural function without animal testing
- Study real-time biological learning and neural adaptability in simulated environments
- Connect actuators, sensors, and external software to living tissue via USB and cloud APIs

## Features

- Integrated life support keeping neurons viable for up to 6 months
- Bi-directional stimulation and recording microelectrode interface
- Biological Intelligence Operating System (biOS) for running interactive simulated worlds
- Self-contained computing unit requiring no external life-support infrastructure
- Onboard touchscreen for monitoring live data, environmental metrics, and assays
- USB connectivity and API access for hardware integrations and remote experiments

## Pricing

Paid. Available for commercial purchase; pricing available on request via sales inquiries.

## Details

- Type: Product
- Category: [AI](https://xiry.app/topics/ai.md)
- Open source: no
- Platforms: other, Web, API
- For: Neuroscientists, biomedical researchers, pharmacologists, and biocomputing developers.
- Alternative to: Traditional in-vitro microelectrode array (MEA) recording systems, Animal testing models for neuropharmacology
- Tags: biocomputing, synthetic biology, neuroscience, hardware, wetware, neural networks

## Why it was saved

- [@ai_livex, 6 March 2025](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DG25SiZS9jc/): Provides a platform to run code on living neural tissue with higher energy efficiency and adaptability than traditional computing, targeting drug discovery, medical research, and robotics.

## Related

- [AI makes non-invasive mind-reading possible by turning thoughts into text](https://xiry.app/resources/ai-makes-non-invasive-mind-reading-possible-by-turning-thoug): Guardian report on non-invasive AI decoding of brain activity into continuous text (Article or course, Free)
- [HOPEJr](https://xiry.app/resources/hopejr): Open-source, low-cost DIY humanoid robot with dexterous hands (Product, Open source)
- [Reachy Mini](https://xiry.app/resources/reachy-mini): Open-source expressive desktop companion robot for AI experimentation and coding (Product, Paid)
- [Reconstructing Visual Experiences from Brain Activity Evoked by Natural Movies](https://xiry.app/resources/reconstructing-visual-experiences-from-brain-activity-evoked): Seminal research decoding human fMRI signals to reconstruct dynamic visual movies. (Article or course)
- [Tab](https://xiry.app/resources/tab): Wearable AI companion that listens to your day and offers context-aware advice (Tip)
- [Unconventional AI](https://xiry.app/resources/unconventional-ai): Hardware and systems startup building biology-scale energy-efficient computing architectures for AI (Free)

Updated 3 October 2026. Page: https://xiry.app/resources/cortical-labs-cl1

Make your own library: Xiry takes your saved reels, tweets, Reddit bookmarks and Watch Later videos, makes them searchable and pulls the useful stuff out, like this library. It's invite-only for now; join the waitlist at https://xiry.app/#waitlist.
