Explore a comprehensive roadmap for reverse-architecting the brain's neocortex in this thought-provoking conference talk by James E. Smith from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Delve into the unconventional approach of reconstructing the computational paradigms used in the neocortex, starting with the end product and working backwards. Learn about the meta-architecture framework, natural layers of abstraction, and key milestones in developing biologically plausible neural networks capable of unsupervised, continual learning. Discover the challenges and opportunities in moving from biological electronics to computational primitives and functional building blocks. Gain insights into the potential for innovation in this wide-open research space and understand how reverse-architecting higher-level cognitive functions could shape the future of computer architecture research for decades to come.