It’s still a vision, but researchers at the University of Bologna are working on systems in which 3D cultures of human brain cells serve as hardware. The development of biocomputers is still in its early stages, but it raises many questions, especially of an ethical nature.
“The research team’s approach is about making AI more brain-like. How artificial intelligence can develop in the future and even achieve possible self-awareness are questions that we will have to deal with more and more often in the future,” emphasized the neuronal expert Networks and Artificial Intelligence, Claudio Anastasio, at a conference “Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Risks” organized at the headquarters of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) in Rome. The new biocomputers will be able to guarantee enormous performance with very low energy costs.
Computer made from biological material
“The computers of the future will no longer be made of silicon, but of biological material. They will be structured in such a way that they resemble the synapses of the human brain. We do not yet know at this point how these machines will behave in terms of their self-awareness . In a few years people will have to deal with the concept of artificial self-confidence because it involves many ethical questions,” said Anastasio, President of the Minermes Association, to the APA.
The development of artificial intelligence raises many considerations about the future generations that will be born into a world where AI will be ubiquitous. “How will the perception of human limits change? Are we ready to face the ethical, bioethical and social challenges that this entails?” is the question asked by the experts in Rome. In the future, we could increasingly see a world in which reality merges with the virtual, in which digital avatars commit crimes and computers lead lives of their own.
“AI offers amazing possibilities, especially for medicine and neuroscience, but its use in the health sector and the possible legal consequences in the event of a medical error are topics that will keep experts very busy in the coming years,” said the Italian neurologist Maria Grazia Marciani, President of the Ethics Committee of the Lazio Region. According to the neurologist, AI enables quick and precise diagnoses. But here too there are many unforeseeable scenarios that are not yet regulated by law. Much of the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure will soon have to be revised in order to take into account the completely new situations that artificial intelligence brings with it.
The lawyer and jurist Silvia Carosini asked herself how the law can be applied in a world without physical borders. “For example, if in the future an avatar commits a crime that would be considered sexual assault in the real world, who would be responsible? In a world where young people are becoming more and more isolated, including because of the misuse of social media, These aspects must also be taken into account in the penal system,” emphasized Carosini.
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**Interview with Dr. Claudio Anastasio, Neuronal Expert and President of the Minermes Association**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Anastasio. Your team at the University of Bologna is pioneering some fascinating research in the field of biocomputers. Can you explain what a biocomputer is and how it differs from traditional computers?
**Dr. Anastasio:** Absolutely, it’s my pleasure! Biocomputers are essentially systems that use living biological materials—in our case, 3D cultures of human brain cells—as their computational hardware. Unlike traditional silicon-based computers, these biocomputers mimic the synapses of the human brain, allowing for potentially higher performance and lower energy consumption.
**Editor:** That sounds revolutionary! However, as you mentioned during the conference, this advancement raises numerous ethical questions. What are some of the primary ethical concerns that you and your colleagues are focusing on?
**Dr. Anastasio:** One of the major ethical issues revolves around the concept of self-awareness in artificial intelligence. As we move closer to developing AI that may exhibit characteristics akin to human thought, we must consider how it will impact our understanding of consciousness and self-confidence. Additionally, we need to address the implications of AI in healthcare and ensure we have frameworks in place to tackle potential mistakes or misuses.
**Editor:** Transitioning from traditional to biological systems poses new societal challenges as well. How do you believe society will react to a future where reality merges with the virtual?
**Dr. Anastasio:** That’s a crucial point. As our digital interactions deepen, we must reconsider our perceptions of reality, responsibility, and human limits. The potential for digital avatars to engage in unlawful behaviors complicates our legal frameworks. A future where humans are increasingly isolated within virtual environments adds another layer of concern that we must be proactive in addressing.
**Editor:** Speaking of the law, can you discuss how legal frameworks may need to adapt to accommodate these emerging technologies?
**Dr. Anastasio:** Yes, legal adjustments will be essential. As highlighted by the discussions at the conference, many aspects of the Criminal Code will require revision to deal with situations unique to AI and virtual spaces. For instance, if an avatar commits a virtual crime, determining accountability will become increasingly complex. This is an area where law and ethics will need to converge rapidly as technology evolves.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing these valuable insights, Dr. Anastasio. It seems we are standing at the precipice of a new era in technology, one that requires deep ethical reflections and legal recalibrations to ensure its responsible integration into society.
**Dr. Anastasio:** Thank you for having me. It’s an exciting yet daunting time for both science and ethics, and I hope our discussions can spark the necessary dialogue moving forward.
