When Biology Becomes Compute, Energy Becomes Abundance
Wed Jan 28 2026
The AI Energy Crunch: Why FinalSpark Thinks Neurons Are the Answers
In this episode of The Disruptor Podcast, host John Kundtz sits down with Dr. Ewelina Kurtys, Strategic Advisor at FinalSpark, to discuss a hard truth most AI leaders are starting to feel: the next wave of AI scale will be constrained less by algorithms and more by energy, cooling, and infrastructure limitations.
While much of the industry is still running the traditional playbook, more GPUs, bigger clusters, and ever-larger data centers, FinalSpark is pursuing an entirely different path: biocomputing built from living neurons.
Ewelina explains why biology may offer a credible route to radically lower-power computing, what FinalSpark is actually building today, and why the biggest breakthrough isn’t just hardware, it’s understanding how neurons encode information.
You’ll also hear how FinalSpark is opening the door for universities and private-sector R&D teams to experiment now through its remote Neuroplatform, why this moment feels like the early days of quantum computing, and what it will take to move biocomputing from lab credibility to commercial adoption.
Together, they explore what it means to stop brute-forcing scale and start rethinking compute from first principles, before the grid, the water, and the economics make the decision for us.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
1️⃣ Why the AI “energy crunch” is bigger than electricity—and increasingly about cooling and water
2️⃣ Why “just add more GPUs” is a short-term fix with long-term structural risk
3️⃣ What FinalSpark’s neuron-based biocomputing approach is—and what it can (and can’t) do today
4️⃣Why the hardest problem is decoding neural information, not simply measuring neural activity
5️⃣How R&D teams can start experimenting now via FinalSpark’s remotely accessible Neuroplatform
About our guest:
Dr. Ewelina Kurtys is a neuroscientist-turned-entrepreneur and Strategic Advisor at FinalSpark, working at the intersection of neuroscience, frontier computing, and commercialization. She has built a career translating complex science into market-facing strategy, bridging lab reality with business adoption.
Visit FinalSpark: finalspark.com
Connect w/ Ewelina on LinkedIn
Comments or Questions? Send us a text
Support the show
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Collaborate with The Disruptor and connect with John Kundtz.
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Thank you for being an integral part of our journey.
Together, let’s redefine the status quo!
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The AI Energy Crunch: Why FinalSpark Thinks Neurons Are the Answers In this episode of The Disruptor Podcast, host John Kundtz sits down with Dr. Ewelina Kurtys, Strategic Advisor at FinalSpark, to discuss a hard truth most AI leaders are starting to feel: the next wave of AI scale will be constrained less by algorithms and more by energy, cooling, and infrastructure limitations. While much of the industry is still running the traditional playbook, more GPUs, bigger clusters, and ever-larger data centers, FinalSpark is pursuing an entirely different path: biocomputing built from living neurons. Ewelina explains why biology may offer a credible route to radically lower-power computing, what FinalSpark is actually building today, and why the biggest breakthrough isn’t just hardware, it’s understanding how neurons encode information. You’ll also hear how FinalSpark is opening the door for universities and private-sector R&D teams to experiment now through its remote Neuroplatform, why this moment feels like the early days of quantum computing, and what it will take to move biocomputing from lab credibility to commercial adoption. Together, they explore what it means to stop brute-forcing scale and start rethinking compute from first principles, before the grid, the water, and the economics make the decision for us. In this episode, you’ll learn: 1️⃣ Why the AI “energy crunch” is bigger than electricity—and increasingly about cooling and water 2️⃣ Why “just add more GPUs” is a short-term fix with long-term structural risk 3️⃣ What FinalSpark’s neuron-based biocomputing approach is—and what it can (and can’t) do today 4️⃣Why the hardest problem is decoding neural information, not simply measuring neural activity 5️⃣How R&D teams can start experimenting now via FinalSpark’s remotely accessible Neuroplatform About our guest: Dr. Ewelina Kurtys is a neuroscientist-turned-entrepreneur and Strategic Advisor at FinalSpark, working at the intersection of neuroscience, frontier computing, and commercialization. She has built a career translating complex science into market-facing strategy, bridging lab reality with business adoption. Visit FinalSpark: finalspark.com Connect w/ Ewelina on LinkedIn Comments or Questions? Send us a text Support the show *** Engage, Share, and Connect! Spread the Word: Valuable insights are best when shared. Share this episode with peers who may benefit from it if you find it insightful. Your Feedback Matters: How did this episode resonate with you? Share your thoughts, insights, or questions. Your engagement enriches our community. Stay Updated: Don’t miss out on further insights. Subscribe: You can listen to our podcast, read our blog posts on Medium, Substack, and LinkedIn, and watch our YouTube channel. Collaborate with The Disruptor and connect with John Kundtz. Got a disruptive story to share? We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Together, let’s redefine the status quo!