Here's an idea:

Today's computers are programmed like primitive lifeforms. They react instantly to commands, like an animal reacts instantly to any kind of stimulus. These are hard-wired machines. Barely more complex than this is the ability to prioritize actions based on a timeline.

But what if a computer could ponder more than one reaction to a command? Potential actions would have to be known a priori, and be associated with conditions for enacting them. Whatever reaction is justified by stimulus is the one that is implemented.

So how do we give computers knowledge of potential actions? A computer could run simulations. In fact this may be why we sleep for 8 hours every day, so that we can run simulations and prepare ourselves for the day's experiences. We cannot know the future and we don't know fully what the people around us are capable of so this may explain why dreams are somehow irrational. We also do not remember our dreams, so maybe we do not have to. The key to intelligent decisionmaking may be in distilling some small essence of an audiovisual experience, and using it to measure future experiences.

This tiny, obscure piece of information may be what drives us to do the things we do. What is that bit of data that we need to discover?

Opinions?