Neuromorphic Engineering in wetware: achievements and perspectives

Artificial intelligence (AI) is blooming because it helps humans handle big data and assists us in making up our minds to manage complex systems. Two are the traditional approaches exploited to develop AI. The first approach entails writing software reproducing human or biological intelligence and running on electronic computers based on the von Neumann architecture. Some software mimics human rigorous logical thinking, while others imitate the structural and functional features of neural networks to learn how to perform tasks from data, and others take inspiration from biological processes such as Darwinian evolution. The second approach entails implementing artificial neural networks in hardware for implementing neuro-prostheses or designing brain-like computing machines.

In the last decade, a novel and alluring strategy to develop AI has been proposed: it mimics biological intelligence using molecular, supramolecular, and systems chemistry in wetware, i.e., liquid solutions, which is the characteristic phase of life. This strategy represents a huge opportunity to understand and exploit computation in the molecular realm, thus closely mimicking the biological cognitive capabilities. Three are the principal methodologies for developing neuromorphic engineering in wetware: (1) chemical reaction networks, (2) synthetic biology, and (3) nanofluidic iontronics.

We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Opinion, General Commentary, and Perspective articles on the three methodologies listed above and all other innovative approaches that the broad research community working on neuromorphic engineering might propose. This research topic can potentially revolutionize the field of artificial intelligence and inspire new directions in neuromorphic engineering.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: wetware, neuromorphic engineering, Chemical Artificial Intelligence;, Synthetic biology;, Nanofluidic Iontronics

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.