Jeff Hawkins

Jeff Hawkins is a pioneering American neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and author, widely recognized for his work in both technology and brain science. Born on June 1, 1957, he is best known as the founder of Palm Computing, where he was instrumental in developing the PalmPilot, one of the first successful handheld devices. He later founded Handspring, further shaping the evolution of mobile computing. Though a tech innovator, his deeper passion has always been understanding the human brain.

Driven by his lifelong fascination with intelligence, Hawkins transitioned into neuroscience and founded the Redwood Neuroscience Institute (now part of Numenta), where he explores theories of how the neocortex works. His groundbreaking book, On Intelligence (2004), introduced the memory-prediction theory, proposing that the brain is fundamentally a prediction machine. In 2021, he published A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence, offering a new model of how intelligence and perception arise from the structure of the neocortex.

Jeff Hawkins is known for his bold, insightful ideas on intelligence and learning. One of his most notable quotes is: “Prediction is the essence of intelligence.” Another powerful statement from A Thousand Brains is: “Your brain is not a computer. It is a prediction engine.” These quotes reflect his central belief: to truly build intelligent machines, we must first understand how the brain works—a vision that continues to guide his interdisciplinary work at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence.