>>30
I don't think I claimed that Numenta's model is the only way or that it's the most viable solution around, however their model is nothing more than a(n) (couple of) implementations of a given theorethical model of the neocortical column. The actual model may not be perfect, but it does seem to be very close to what other people doing research on the neocortical column have been proposing. It would be validate (or disprove, so we can move forward) these hypotheses about the function of the neocortical column, for example by the means of simulation.
What I'm claiming is that a good model of the neocortical column and a reasonable hierarchical network of them could lead to mammalian-like and quite possibly human-like general artificial intelligence which would be practical to implement and train at a lower cost and in real time (of course, it's more complex than that, there's the problem of sensors and feedback). In no way I'm claiming that this approach is the only one - it's one of many, however I do strongly believe it is worth pursuing. There are of course many other approaches to general AI, and this particular one has its own shortcomings.