TBC Partners with AWS to Offer "Rat Brain" AI Model in Limited Preview

The Biological Computing Company (TBC), a startup developing AI models powered by biological neural networks, has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to offer its "rat brain" AI model to select customers. The limited preview, beginning this week, marks a significant step for biologically-derived AI and could accelerate its adoption among enterprise users.

TBC and AWS Partner to Offer "Rat Brain" AI Model

The Biological Computing Company (TBC), a startup developing AI models derived from biological neural networks, has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to make its "rat brain" AI model available to select AWS customers. According to WIRED, the limited preview begins Tuesday.

TBC’s technology uses rat brain cells and human stem cells on multi-electrode silicon arrays to enhance AI video generation. The company claims its approach mimics the computational efficiency of biological neural networks, potentially offering faster and more cost-effective AI models.

Funding and Growth

TBC was founded four years ago in Baltimore by neuroscientists and neurosurgeons Alexander Ksendzovsky and Jon Pomeraniec. The company has since expanded, opening offices and a research lab in San Francisco last year. It now employs about 35 people, some of whom work directly with biological materials in the lab.

The startup has raised over $50 million in funding. Earlier this year, TBC secured $25 million in a round led by Primary Venture Partners. WIRED reports an additional $25 million round was recently undisclosed, bringing the total to more than $50 million.

Investors include Jeff Dean, who reportedly advised TBC to focus on video generation models before expanding its neural technology more broadly.

How TBC’s Technology Works

TBC’s approach involves running a biology lab to keep rat brain cells or human stem cells alive on multi-electrode silicon arrays. These arrays, manufactured by Swiss company 3Brain, send electrical stimulation patterns into the neurons and record their responses. The neural activity is then analyzed for computational patterns that can be translated into software.

Co-founder Alexander Ksendzovsky told WIRED that the decision to focus on video generation was influenced by the physical layout of the arrays, which mapped visual information more effectively than text or language. The company claims its AI model can generate video up to five times faster than open-source alternatives while reducing inference costs.

AWS Partnership and Future Plans

AWS has partnered with TBC to distribute its AI model, potentially accelerating access for enterprise customers. According to WIRED, Amazon and TBC expect the technology to roll out more broadly to AWS’s enterprise customer base soon.

Prior to this partnership, TBC’s technology was only available through a specialized neocloud provider, Bluesky Compute. The collaboration with AWS marks a significant step toward scaling the technology.

The partnership could position TBC as a leader in biologically-derived AI, a field that also includes companies like Australia’s Cortical Labs. Cortical Labs combines lab-grown neurons with silicon chips to process data, though its focus differs from TBC’s video generation applications.

What this means

LazyFounders analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

TBC’s partnership with AWS signals growing interest in biologically-derived AI, a niche but potentially transformative field. For founders and operators, this deal highlights two key trends:

First, it underscores the lengths startups are going to differentiate their AI models. While most AI companies rely on traditional silicon-based hardware, TBC’s use of biological neural networks is a bold bet on an alternative approach. If successful, it could challenge the dominance of conventional AI architectures, particularly in use cases like video generation where speed and cost matter.

Second, the AWS partnership demonstrates how cloud providers are increasingly open to distributing unconventional AI technologies. For startups, this is a reminder that even radical ideas can find a path to market if they can demonstrate tangible benefits—whether in performance, cost, or efficiency. That said, biologically-derived AI faces significant hurdles, including scalability, ethical concerns, and long-term viability.

For now, TBC’s limited preview is a test case. If it delivers on its promises, expect more startups to explore biological computing as a way to leapfrog traditional AI limitations.

Key takeaways

• TBC’s "rat brain" AI model is now available to select AWS customers as part of a limited preview.
• The company was founded by neuroscientists and uses biological neural networks to enhance AI video generation.
• TBC has raised over $50 million in funding, with $25 million recently disclosed.
• AWS’s partnership with TBC could expand access to its biologically-derived AI models for enterprise customers.
• TBC’s technology aims to improve speed and cost-efficiency in AI video generation.

FAQ

What is TBC’s "rat brain" AI model?

TBC’s "rat brain" AI model is a biologically-derived AI system that uses rat brain cells and human stem cells on multi-electrode silicon arrays to improve AI video generation. The company claims it mimics the computational efficiency of biological neural networks.

Why did TBC partner with AWS?

AWS partnered with TBC to distribute its AI model, potentially accelerating access for enterprise customers. The collaboration allows TBC to leverage AWS’s cloud infrastructure and customer base to scale its technology.

How much funding has TBC raised?

TBC has raised over $50 million in funding, including a $25 million round led by Primary Venture Partners and an additional $25 million round that was recently undisclosed.

What are the claimed advantages of TBC’s AI model?

TBC claims its AI model is up to five times faster at video generation and reduces inference costs compared to open-source alternatives.

How does TBC’s technology differ from traditional AI?

Unlike traditional AI, which relies on silicon-based hardware, TBC’s technology uses biological neural networks—specifically rat brain cells and human stem cells—to enhance computational efficiency.

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