Scientists Made a Living Computer!

In this conversation, Ewelina Kurtys discusses her journey into biocomputing, a field that merges neuroscience and artificial intelligence. She explains the concept of biocomputing, the role of living neurons in computation, and the philosophical implications of AI and consciousness. The discussion also covers the challenges of programming neurons, safety concerns, and the future potential of biocomputing in various applications. Ewelina emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations and the collective responsibility of scientists to ensure that their work benefits society. Chapters 00:00 The Emergence of Biological Intelligence 02:32 Evelina Kotes: A Journey into Biocomputing 06:02 Philosophy of Intelligence and Consciousness 10:04 Understanding Biocomputing 15:39 Neurons: The Building Blocks of Intelligence 18:09 The Butterfly Experiment: A Living Demo 20:34 Misconceptions About AI and Biocomputing 23:18 Safety and Reproducibility in Biocomputing 25:22 Challenges of Neuron Longevity and Maintenance 26:46 The Human Side of Frontier Science 28:41 Energy Efficiency and Cost of Biocomputing 30:55 Emerging Use Cases for Biocomputing 32:04 Programming Neurons for Advanced Algorithms 35:39 The Future of Biocomputing and Its Impact 37:48 Quality of Neurons: Lab vs. Natural 39:31 Moments of Pride in Scientific Discovery 43:38 The Deeper Meaning of Biocomputing