A biological computing startup, The Biological Computing Company (TBC), is partnering with Amazon to bring its rat brain-inspired AI models to market, aiming to enhance video generation technology.

According to TBC co-founder Alexander Ksendzovsky, their method involves coding information into biological material, observing how the biology processes it, and then mimicking this process in software. This pragmatic approach contrasts with some other companies that attempt to reinvent the core of large language models from scratch.

While TBC’s technology holds promise, it comes with unique challenges. Biological computing requires the careful management of living cells and translating their activity into meaningful digital information, a process that remains complex. The startup, founded in Baltimore, has raised significant funding and is expanding its operations to San Francisco.

The decision to focus on video was both practical and scientific, given the suitability of the multi-electrode silicon arrays used in their research for mapping visual information. TBC’s CEO, Alexander Ksendzovsky, believes this could lead to meaningful advancements in AI, though scaling remains a concern.