News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Human brain organoid bioprocessors now available to rent ... by dbingham on Wednesday August 28, 2024 @08:50AM (#41378897)
This falls squarely into the "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they never stopped to consider whether they should" category.

There are so many unknowns with potentially horrifying answers.

We don't know what generates human consciousness. But we know the brain is a key part of it. At what point does a bunch of lab grown human neurons become conscious? Can it become conscious outside of a body? What would that experience be like if a lab grown brain used as a computer developed consciousness? And what would happen to that consciousness?

The potential energy savings aren't worth risking the potential horror.

Re:Human brain organoid bioprocessors now available to rent ... by mrweasel on Wednesday August 28, 2024 @09:28AM (#41379273)
> What would that experience be like if a lab grown brain used as a computer developed consciousness? And what would happen to that consciousness?

That's my concern as well, because I think it would go insane almost instantly. This would also render the whole project useless, you can't reasonably expect an insane brain to yield correct results. Or would it be a double trapped brain existing as chip, unable to move or communicate, witnessing it's neurons being used as a computing resource, but without being able to do anything about it.

It's very very scary, and there needs to be a process for testing for any type of consciousness and a plan for what to do if it's detected, I recommend just killing it instantly to prevent any suffering.

Re:Human brain organoid bioprocessors now available to rent ... by aithrowaway1987 on Wednesday August 28, 2024 @10:10AM (#41379737)
> witnessing it's neurons being used as a computing resource

What exactly is doing the witnessing here, if the neurons are being used for computation? A lot of these comments seem to tacitly assume there is a little person inside our brains who is at the controls, and that organoid computing means that these controls are forcibly taken away, causing the magic little person to suffer horribly. It's strangely childish.

Re:Human brain organoid bioprocessors now available to rent ... by sgu999 on Wednesday August 28, 2024 @09:06AM (#41379053)
> We don't know what generates human consciousness. But we know the brain is a key part of it. At what point does a bunch of lab grown human neurons become conscious?

Why just human neurons for a human consciousness?

We know very little of what sparkle consciousness but the consensus seems to be that most living things experience it with varying degree. Even though most of us, conscious humans, are absolutely fine with millions of mammals being slaughtered without much care for their feelings.

Re:Human brain organoid bioprocessors now available to rent ... by sgarland on Wednesday August 28, 2024 @09:10AM (#41379094)
It hits different when it’s your own species. At least, for humans – plenty of animals exhibit cannibalism without a second thought.
Re:Human brain organoid bioprocessors now available to rent ... by ethanwillis on Wednesday August 28, 2024 @09:20AM (#41379182)
Humans also exhibit cannibalism. In some cases without a second thought.
Re:Human brain organoid bioprocessors now available to rent ... by anileated on Wednesday August 28, 2024 @09:07AM (#41379063)
Another way to say it: it’s ethical slavery. We’re hacking slavery, yeah!

— Conner O’Malley (in his excellent “Standup Solutions”)