Koniku: Building the Future of Computing with Living Neurons
2025-02-24
Koniku is attempting to build computers unlike any that have ever existed, using living neurons. Founder Oshiorenoya Agabi and his team in Berkeley, California, are developing a neuron-silicon hybrid chip, called the Koniku Kore, initially for chemical sensing, with future applications spanning drug development, agriculture, and neurological disease treatment. The company has secured contracts with defense and consumer product companies and plans to release a developer chip. While challenges remain, such as neuron cultivation and signal interpretation, Koniku's innovation lies in its fusion of biology and electronics, pushing towards 'wetware' AI and challenging the limitations of traditional silicon-based computing.