#208 – Jeff Hawkins: The Thousand Brains Theory of Intelligence

Intelligence originates from the neocortex, a sheet of neural tissue that functions through a repetitive, distributed algorithm. Rather than a singular processing center, the brain utilizes approximately 150,000 independent cortical columns, each acting as a complete modeling system that learns through movement and sensory input. These columns employ reference frames—similar to Cartesian coordinates—to build internal models of the world, enabling prediction, planning, and behavior. Prediction is not merely a goal but a fundamental mechanism for learning; neurons use internal dendritic spikes to anticipate activity, allowing the brain to update its models when reality deviates from expectation. While human intelligence is currently unique in its ability to understand the universe, the underlying principles of these cortical modeling systems can be engineered into artificial intelligence, potentially transcending biological limitations and enabling the preservation of human knowledge.