[extropy-chat] A quick AGI question

[A B]

Hey y'all,
   
  I'm trying to develop a personal understanding of the (very) elementary theory behind AGI, such that a mere mortal like me can understand intuitively, without having to digest mountains of literature. So I have a basic question, that I'll state using informal (and I'm sure inaccurate) terminology, but I hope I can get the idea across all the same.
   
  Q) If I understand correctly, the algorithms responsible for human thought are supplied by the physical arrangement of the "active" hardware of the human brain. So, is the premise behind AGI that the active *software* functions by pre-specifying the physical arrangement of the hardware (by specifying which transistors are active at what time for example) and that the AGI "thoughts" follow from this point onward? In other words, the actual "thoughts" of the AGI are always secondary to the hardware arrangement supplied by the software, and that in both cases it is *ultimately* the *hardware* that results in the mind? 
   
  Is this an accurate basic understanding, or is this all just bass - ackwards?
   
  Best Wishes,
   
  Jeffrey Herrlich   

 
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