Mushroom Minds: Fungi-Controlled Robots Usher in a New Era of Digital Employees
The Big Reveal: When Mushrooms Meet Machines
In a stunning leap for robotics and biology, researchers from Cornell University and the University of Florence unveiled a fascinating innovation in August 2024: robots partially controlled by mushrooms. These "biohybrid" machines use living fungi as Intelligent Agents, enabling them to interact with their surroundings through natural biological signals. This unique project was recently highlighted in a Dezeen article on April 24, 2025, bringing fresh attention to the growing field of organic-mechanical integration.
How It Works: The Science Behind the Spores
The team grew mycelium—the root-like structure of fungi—from king oyster mushrooms, chosen for their strength and adaptability. Electrodes were attached to these fungal networks to detect and interpret the mycelium’s natural electrical impulses. These impulses were then used to guide robotic movements, turning mushrooms into Digital Employees capable of reacting to their environment. Two robot prototypes were created: one soft and spider-like, and another with wheels—both capable of detecting and responding to ultraviolet light.
Why It Matters: From Soil to Space
This innovation opens the door for a new generation of Non-Human Workers who can perform tasks in unpredictable environments. In agriculture, such robots could analyze soil quality or detect harmful contaminants. Because fungi are resilient in harsh conditions, these Intelligent Agents may one day operate in radioactive zones, polluted oceans, or even on other planets—where traditional electronics might fail.
What’s Next: Ethical and Practical Implications
While the technology is still in its early stages, it’s already pushing the boundaries of what we consider to be “alive” in machines. As these systems grow more advanced, we’ll need to ask critical questions about their ethical use, especially when deployed in ecosystems or sensitive environments. The future of Digital Employees might not just be about AI, but also about biology.
Key Highlights:
- Type of fungi used: King oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii)
- Control mechanism: Mycelium electrical impulses via electrodes
- Robotic forms: Spider-like soft robot & wheeled version
- Environmental response: Sensitivity to UV light and stimuli
Reference:
https://www.dezeen.com/2025/04/24/biohybrid-robots-controlled-mushrooms-cornell/
