Wetware: Is the Future of Supply Chain Tech Biological?

In the world of computing, wetware describes systems built using living biological materials like neurons or DNA.

Unlike hardware (physical devices) or software (the digital instructions they run), wetware involves biological tissues that compute, learn and adapt.

In this field, researchers and technologists use actual neurons or other biological materials to perform calculations, process information and even respond to changes in real time. The aim is to mimic how the human brain operates – efficiently, adaptively and with low energy use.

Wetware ultimately connects computer science, neuroscience and bioengineering. It may open a path to systems that are self-healing, naturally adaptive and capable of handling vast streams of information in ways traditional silicon computers cannot match.

Living neurons as processors

In the 1990s, Professor William Ditto at Georgia Institute of Technology used leech neurons to perform basic arithmetic. The experiment proved that even these simple biological components can process information.

Today, companies like Cortical Labs push the concept further. Its CL1 biocomputer contains about 800,000 living human brain cells growing on a silicon chip.

Developers can deploy code directly to the cells using what the company calls a “biOS” or Biological Intelligence Operating System. It combines “hard silicon and soft tissue” to create a hybrid system.

Founder and CEO Hon Weng Chong explains: “The only machine or the only thing that we know of that actually has true intelligence is the brain.

"So, we said, 'let’s start with the basic building structure, the building blocks being neurons and let’s build our way up and maybe we’ll get there along the way'.”

The neurons are not permanent, however. They survive “up to six months” and require constant care – nutrients, water and a life-support system to maintain temperature and remove waste. This is one of the many reasons why wetware remains experimental.

Other innovators include Koniku, which creates bio-digital systems for smart sensing, and Ginkgo Bioworks, known for programming living cells to optimise biochemical production.

FinalSpark in Switzerland is also building remote neuroplatforms powered by cultured neurons, marketed as cloud-accessible computing systems.

Could wetware transform supply chains?

So, what does all this have to do with supply chains? While it is far from mainstream adoption, wetware computing offers ideas that may eventually improve how supply chains operate.

One area of interest is data analysis and predictive analytics. Biological systems could, in theory, analyse complex operational data faster and more efficiently than current silicon chips. This could enhance forecasting, risk analysis and inventory management.

Real-time adaptation is another area. Wetware systems – due to their self-learning nature – might react to supply chain disruptions faster than today’s rule-based software. This makes them attractive for agile, responsive supply chain operations.

In manufacturing, synthetic biology might produce bioengineered packaging or transport materials. For instance, biosensors embedded in packages could monitor temperature, humidity or contamination levels in real time.

That said, wetware still exists at the proof-of-concept stage. While the Cortical Labs device shows what is technically possible, it is not industrial-ready. 

There is something to be said for bringing it into the conversation though; the more leaders discuss these innovations at conferences and in boardrooms, the more likely they are to achieve funding and ultimately transform the way we move goods. 

The reality

It doesn’t look like we’ll be living in a sci-fi world just yet, as scalability remains a barrier.

Biological elements are far less stable than silicon, needing maintenance and controlled environments. Plus, biological variation also affects consistency and reliability – two critical features for supply chain systems.

Integration with current IT infrastructure is another issue. Most supply chains run on established platforms, so plugging in a wetware-based component is not as simple as dropping in a software update. 

That’s without mentioning ethical and regulatory concerns, which are bound to complicate matters later down the line. The use of living human cells raises questions about sourcing, experimentation and rights.

For now, supply chain leaders should treat wetware as an emerging concept worth watching. It may one day underpin new forms of supply chain intelligence, but today it remains a curiosity with promise.