A University of Maryland-led initiative, backed by $7.5 million from the U.S. Army Research Office, aims to revolutionize artificial intelligence by exploring the role of astrocytes—star-shaped cells in the brain. This project, part of a Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), is spearheaded by a team of researchers including physics Professor Wolfgang Losert and chemistry Professor John Fourkas. They are developing a 'hybrid AI' approach that integrates biological computation principles with traditional computing. The research posits that astrocytes, previously viewed as passive, are essential for learning and memory, suggesting that AI systems mimicking these cells could learn faster and adapt more reliably. A key innovation from this research is the 'rhythmic sharing' algorithm, which allows AI to detect changes in its environment more swiftly than conventional methods. Initial tests on simulated data from critical systems, such as water treatment facilities, demonstrated this algorithm's superior performance. The team believes these astrocyte-based AI systems could have far-reaching applications, impacting various sectors where dynamic signals are present.