On Intelligence: How a New Understanding of the Brain Will Lead to the Creation of Truly Intelligent Machines by Jeff Hawkins, Sandra Blakeslee

In 2000, Jeff Hawkins, a veteran technology expert and inventor, published his groundbreaking book "On Intelligence". In this book, he argues that the way we think about intelligence and artificial is wrong. According to him, robots and computers, as they currently exist, lack true intelligence and won't be able to match human capabilities unless a new understanding of the brain is obtained and applied.

Hawkins offers a detailed explanation of his view that the human brain does not compute, as commonly assumed, but learns, organizes, and recognizes patterns. This cognitive approach to understanding how the brain works is, according to Hawkins, the only way we can truly build machines that can think. He explains how the brain stores memories, describes the strategy the brain uses to learn and recognize patterns, and gives detailed details of the neocortex - the region of the brain that is responsible for complex cognitive activities.

In addition, Hawkins briefly comments on the application of these principles to machine learning and proposed the Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) approach. HTM seeks to build models of neocortex-like intelligence into machines, so as to create computers that can develop more human-like intelligence. Hawkins also argues that Neural Networks, a type of artificial neural network, need to be redesigned in a way that reflects the structure of the neocortex for a computer to become truly intelligent.

In this book, Hawkins emphasizes that when looking to create truly intelligent machines, it is essential to understand the structure of the neocortex and how it stores information, rather than trying to apply previously existing approaches such as machine learning and artificial neural networks. He argues for the importance of studying the human brain and obtaining a new understanding of its inner workings, in order to create computers that are truly intelligent.

Overall, On Intelligence is Hawkins's insightful examination of the current state of artificial intelligence, and the measures necessary to make breakthroughs in the field. With clear arguments and detailed explanations, he provides readers with a thoughtful and thorough exploration of the human brain in order to gain the knowledge required to unlock the potential of machines and robots.