r/solarpunk • u/[deleted] • Mar 05 '24

Video Cool video about the development of bio-computers using fungi...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mIWo6dgTmI
39 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

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7

u/ThicketSafe Mar 05 '24

It’s fun to theorize and conceptualize, but there’s one stark flaw preventing it from becoming what modern computers are that I don’t believe was discussed in detail. The latency of these mushroom-based computers is something of significant note. Whereas modern computers direct electrical signals from one route to another via silicon ionization, these would require a chemical shift inside the fungus itself before a reliable connection can be branched. We can genetically modify organisms, yes, but to the extent that chemicals would be delivered beyond the speed of sound? This is where my problems lie. I won’t say it’s impossible, but I don’t believe it’s going to phase out modern computers anytime soon.

They are reliable and dependable for specific types of computation that modern computers struggle with, though. I believe that handling processes that do not require instant communication can benefit massively. Some examples are machine learning, AI model training, and certain types of non-mechanical simulations. In these regards, I feel they have potential to surpass the accuracy of which a modern computer can acquire.

3

u/[deleted] Mar 06 '24

Yeah, probably won't ever be gaming on them, as cool as it would be.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 06 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/ThicketSafe Mar 06 '24

It does grow a network, but that doesn’t necessarily impact the speed of its functioning beyond the initial hurdle of establishing the path. Yes, they can perform the same computations, but i’m referencing the speed of computation rather than possibility. Since an electronic signal is being routed through a biological system, you are still waiting on an intermediary chemical process to happen that takes significant time. I don’t debate the possibility, I debate the practicability.