Artificial neurons inspired by nature can become the foundation for more energy-efficient computers and advanced brain-computer interfaces. The human brain, which contains billions of specialized cells that transmit electrical impulses, operates with much greater energy efficiency than today’s computers.
The human brain uses as much energy as an LED light bulb
As described by the authors of the study published in the scientific journal “Nature Communications“, the human brain is much more energy-efficient than any computer – it operates with at least 100 times greater efficiency than the electrical circuit of an average computer. The brain only needs to be used to complete a task, such as writing a story 20 watts of power, which is as much as an LED bulb. The same sentence executed by a language model, e.g. ChatGPT,may require consumption of over 1 megawatt.
– Our brain processes a huge amount of data. However, its energy consumption is very, very small, especially compared to the amount of electricity needed to run a large language model such as ChatGPT – commented the lead author of the work, Shuai Fu from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst (USA), quoted by PAP.
The key link in this technology are protein nanowires
Research conducted by a team from the American University of Massachusetts in Amherst resulted in the creation of artificial neurons powered by protein nanowires that operate at minimal voltage. The co-author of the study, Yun Yao, emphasized that thanks to such low consumption, direct cooperation with biological cells is possible, which significantly improves energy efficiency.
The key material in this technology are protein nanowires produced by the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducenswhich skillfully generates and conducts electricity. It is believed that their use could lead to the development of devices with functionality comparable to living organisms as well wearable electronics that will no longer depend on energy-hungry amplifiers.
Sensors from human neurons would not need amplification
According to the authors of the paper, the results of their research may lead to the creation of biologically inspired computers with performance comparable to living organisms and electronic accessories worn on the body, wearable electronics that will no longer need energy-consuming amplifiers of signals flowing from the body.
– We currently have all kinds of portable electronic sensor systems, but they are relatively bulky and inefficient. Every time they detect a signal from our body, they have to amplify it electrically so that the computer can analyze it, Yao explained. He noted that this results in higher energy consumption and requires more complex systems. – Sensors made of our low-voltage neurons could do without amplification at all – emphasized the researcher, quoted by PAP.
A team from an American university is already using nanowires in innovative projects, such as “electronic nose” for detecting diseases Whether devices that draw energy from the air. These innovations indicate that the developed technologies can revolutionize both personal electronics and systems of interaction with the human body.
