Event round-up: AI Leader’s Series event on Bio Intelligence
On 28 April, techUK brought together a panel of subject matter experts to discuss a fascinating emerging area at the frontier of artificial intelligence, bio intelligence.
Part of techUK's AI Leader’s Series, our event series that explores cutting-edge developments in AI, this session explored what bio intelligence is, where it is being developed and deployed today, and what it could mean for the UK in the months and years ahead.
Speaker’s included:
Monica Maghami – CEO and Founder, SUSTAIN-NOBILITY ADVISORY
Theresa Yurkewich Hoffman – Head of Responsible AI, Kainos
Dr Ewelina Kurtys – Founder and CEO – Deep Tech Commercialization, Ekai.io
Ella Shuter – Junior Programme Manager, Emerging Tech, techUK
Usman Ikhlaq – Programme Manager, Artificial Intelligence, techUK
What is bio intelligence?
Bio intelligence sits at the intersection of biology, computing and artificial intelligence. It focuses on how biological systems process information, adapt, and make decisions, and how these capabilities can be harnessed, modelled and integrated into new AI technologies.
Unlike bio-inspired AI, which draws lessons from nature for digital systems, bio intelligent systems may combine biological and digital components. Emerging approaches range from organoids and cellular computation to DNA-based storage and biologically inspired architectures.
In our discussion, the panel set out how the field of bio intelligence remains in very early stages. Currently, research is focused on understanding how to programme and interface with living systems.
What we heard
Bio intelligence has significant potential, but challenges need to be addressed
Panellists highlighted promising uses in healthcare and drug discovery. Bio intelligent systems could model how diseases progress more accurately by using actual biological tissue. They could also learn to recognise patterns from just a few examples, similar to how biological brains work.
However, there are serious technical hurdles. Programming living neurons, making sure they behave consistently, and managing biological infrastructure are all major challenges that need solving.
Ethics questions
The discussion highlighted critical ethical questions. For example, if bio intelligent systems use neural tissue that might be capable of something like awareness or feeling, this raises questions: What rights do they have? Can they consent? What responsibilities do we have toward them? When biological and digital components work together, figuring out who's responsible when things go wrong becomes much more complicated than with more classic AI applications.
Cross-disciplinary collaboration
Progress requires bringing together biologists, engineers, AI researchers, ethicists, and policymakers. Panellists stressed this doesn't happen naturally. It requires creating the right environments (shared labs, joint research projects, and regular dialogue) where different disciplines can collaborate meaningfully
What this means
While the field of bio intelligence is still developing, it represents an exciting prospect: creating AI systems with the adaptability and resilience of living organisms. Realising this potential will require solving profound technical challenges and addressing complex ethical questions. For UK technology companies and policymakers, this is both an opportunity and a call to action. Engaging thoughtfully now will help shape how this technology develops responsibly.
Click the link to watch the full recording of the session.
