Buy tickets now
An event powered by
Search
Close this search box.

AI-powered ‘cyborg worms’ showcase innovative advances in neurotechnology

AI-Powered “Cyborg Worms”: A Glimpse into the Future of Brain-AI Collaboration

Scientists have successfully created “cyborg worms” by integrating AI directly into the nervous systems of tiny Caenorhabditis elegans

 

AI-powered ‘Cyborg worms’ mark a revolutionary leap in neurotechnology. Scientists have successfully guided these organisms’ brains using artificial intelligence, illustrating potential applications in future tech innovations. This breakthrough showcases the flexible integration of AI with biological entities, where AI doesn’t just observe but actively guides living organisms.

AI’s Role in Creating ‘Cyborg Worms’

Scientists have achieved a groundbreaking innovation by developing AI-powered ‘Cyborg Worms’. This remarkable feat involves using artificial intelligence to guide the brains of these biological organisms. The simplicity of their setup, highlighted by Doan, an engineer at the University of Queensland, suggests that reinforcement learning can adapt flexibly to biological behaviors.

The AI-Worm Partnership: How It Works 

Using deep reinforcement learning, a technique often employed to train AI systems in mastering complex games, researchers trained an AI agent to steer these one-millimeter-long worms toward tasty patches of Escherichia coli. This AI-directed behavior showcases the potential of combining biological and artificial neural networks.

The setup was relatively simple yet powerful. A camera recorded the movements of the worms, and an AI agent received real-time data to decide when to activate light-sensitive neurons in the worms, guiding them toward their target. Remarkably, the AI and worms worked together to navigate obstacles, with the worms instinctively adjusting their paths when needed.

Implications for Future Technology 

The study, published in Nature Machine Intelligence, opens the door to numerous applications, including potential advancements in medical treatments. The researchers are now exploring how similar AI-driven methods could improve deep-brain stimulation therapies for Parkinson’s disease, offering hope for more precise and effective treatments.

This collaboration between AI and living organisms hints at a future where artificial intelligence could enhance human capabilities, potentially even granting us new skills by merging artificial and biological neural networks.

Why that matters

  • Innovation: neurotechnology could redefine the interaction between technology and biology. This research represents a significant step forward in the integration of AI with living organisms, paving the way for future innovations in biotechnology and medicine.
  • Healthcare: the techniques developed could lead to breakthroughs in treating neurological disorders, providing more targeted and effective therapies.
  • Human-AI Symbiosis: this development opens new pathways for research in bioengineering. The idea of AI enhancing human abilities is no longer just science fiction. This study shows that we are closer than ever to achieving this reality.

Are you curious about all the potential applications of AI and robotics to neurosciences? Don’t miss a visit to Maker Faire Rome: universities and research centers from all over Italy and beyond will present their latest research! Rome, Oct 25-27, at Gazometro Ostiense!

 

sources: Scientific American I Livarava

cover image: credits Thomas Fuchs

author: Barbara Marcotulli


 

Maker Faire Rome – The European Edition has been committed since its very first editions to make innovation accessible and usable to all, with the aim of not leaving anyone behind. Its blog is always updated and full of opportunities and inspiration for makers, makers, startups, SMEs and all the curious ones who wish to enrich their knowledge and expand their business, in Italy and abroad.

Follow us, subscribe to our newsletter: we promise to let just the right content for you to reach your inbox.

Promoted by
SUPPORTED BY
IN COLLABORATION WITH
with the support of
With the patronage of
in partnership with
Thanks to
in partnership with
Main Partner
Gold partner
Silver partner
Bronze partner
Cybersecurity Expert
Official Car
main media partner
media partner
MAIN MEDIA partner
press & digital
media partner
technical media partner
special thanks
media partner
Technical media partner
PADEL TECHNICAL PARTNER
with the free patronage of

testimonials