“Reverse engineering the neural cortex: We’re going to finish this off in less than five years”— Jeff Hawkins

From the EE Times summary:
“This notion that evolution ends with humans is silly,” keynoter Steve Jurvetson, partner and managing director of DFJ, told attendees. “I think what humans really mean is we don’t want to compete with something smarter than us in our lifetime. I think you can shift our selfish sense of supremacy to a symbolic trajectory of progress.”

Hawkins believes reverse engineering the neural cortex is the fastest way to intelligent machines. Neuroscience has shown that language and touch work on the same principles, and Hawkins expects a machine’s abilities to unfold in a similar way once scientists are able to tap inherent potential.

“Progress is incremental but also exponential. We’re going to finish this off in less than five years, I believe.”

If the thought of enlightened machines in the next five years is too much, Hawkins assured attendees that artificial intelligence isn’t inherently dangerous. The ability to self-replicate is dangerous, however.”

Photo by Scoble of me on stage at the SV Forum iHuman confab.