Energy, Data Centers, AI and Biocomputing

There has been a great deal of discussion about the emergence of AI computing and data centers in recent months, but what does the future really hold for these controversial topics? Those questions and more were examined at the 2026 Penn State Biorenewables Symposium, held April 8-9 at the Barron Innovation Hub in State College.

The morning keynote presentation was by Feng Guo, Penn State alumnus who is currently a faculty at Indiana University. He is one of the world leaders in the field of biocomputing and brain organoid computing, and was kind enough to share some of his insights and perspectives with the assembled audience.  In his opening remarks, Guo noted that AI is amazing, but it has issues with energy consumption and sustainability. Because of this, new approaches, such as biocomputing, may be worth considering.

What is biocomputing? Stated simply, it is the use of living organisms to carry out computer functions as part of a purpose-built device or machine. This may seem like fanciful science fiction to many, but scientists are now able to successfully grow "brain organoids", or masses of brain-like tissue from voluntarily donated skin or blood samples. In turn, researchers have been able to connect those organoids to computer circuits and use them to carry out computing tasks. Guo shared recent findings from his research group where they have been able to make biocomputing devices that can do things such as recognize voices and patterns, as well as devices that can be applied to the study and possible treatment of some diseases.

What does this have to do with data centers and energy? Guo noted that these biocomputers actually require much less energy to operate than traditional computers carrying out the same tasks.  While a straight side-by-side comparison is a little difficult to carry out, it is not unreasonable to anticipate energy use reductions of 99% when using a biocomputer instead of a traditional machine. If bio-based data centers were to become a reality, the energy requirements could therefore be drastically lower than what is projected for today's "traditional" data centers that are being planned in the region. In addition to that, Guo pointed out that bio-based computer systems are built from a very high percentage of organic material, which makes them easier to recycle and re-use without the need for dangerous chemicals or expensive recycling processes.

Biocomputing is still in its very early stages, so it's not likely that we will be seeing a lot of these devices on the market right away. However, there are companies that are beginning to market bio-based circuits, and who knows how quickly things will develop.

After the keynote presentation, a lively panel discussion explored many of the issues related to energy and computing.  On the energy production side, Jackie O'Connor of Penn State's Mechanical Engineering Department emphasized the ethical importance of reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to meet the needs of people's homes, farms, hospitals, and businesses. Rui Shi of Penn State Chemical Engineering pointed out the importance of considering the entire life-cycle cost and impact of new technologies to better understand their overall impact. Joseph Najem from Mechanical Engineering spoke about alternative bio-based approaches to computing, including circuits built not from living tissue but from the biomolecules that make up neurons and cells. These systems are designed to closely mimic the structures and processes the brain uses to process information and make decisions.

As we look at how quickly generative AI has come onto the scene in today's world, it may be worth considering how it might look in the years to come. If biocomputing becomes the AI computing platform, the energy needs of data centers could shrink dramatically. At the same time, there may be a new need for experts to maintain and support these systems. Would it be too much of a stretch to think of a biocomputing data center as being a futuristic farm, where instead of producing milk or growing lettuce, the farmer is growing circuits and producing data? Much of what was discussed was highly speculative, but not outside the realm of possibility. When we see how much things have changed in just the past generation, it becomes clear that whatever the future holds, it will be new and different.

The Biorenewables Symposium is an annual event at Penn State that brings together researchers and thought leaders in the field of biorenewables to discuss the future for bioenergy, biomaterials, and bioproducts. Jointly sponsored by Penn State's Center for Biorenewables, the Huck Institute for Life Sciences, Penn State Extension, the iSAFES institute, and the LiMC2 center (all at Penn State), the symposium is open to all, and includes featured speakers, panel discussions, and a research poster session.