Jeff Hawkins
Born: June 01, 1957 – Huntington, New York, United States
Jeff Hawkins is an American engineer, entrepreneur, and neuroscientist whose work spans handheld computing, brain theory, and artificial intelligence. He co-founded Palm Computing and Handspring, helping popularize the PalmPilot, and later founded Numenta. He is the author of On Intelligence and A Thousand Brains, influential books on the neocortex and machine intelligence.
Biography & Author's Journey
Jeff Hawkins built his career at the intersection of engineering, product design, and a long-running curiosity about the brain. Raised on Long Island in a family that liked building boats and mechanical projects, he studied electrical engineering at Cornell, graduating in 1979, then worked at Intel and GriD Systems. In 1986 he left industry for the University of California, Berkeley’s biophysics program to pursue neuroscience, but departed without completing the degree when his interests did not fit the academic structure. That detour proved decisive: work from that period fed into his handwriting-recognition software, later refined into Graffiti, and into his conviction that compact, human-centered computers could succeed where bulkier devices had failed. Through Palm and later Handspring, he helped define the PDA era and then the Treo smartphone line. ((https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/jeff-hawkins))
Quotes
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A Thousand Brains
Jeff Hawkins
Groundbreaking neuroscience theory revolutionizes our understanding of intelligence, brain function, and the future of artificial intelligence.
On Intelligence
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A groundbreaking theory on brain function and artificial intelligence by the inventor of the PalmPilot, challenging conventional wisdom.
A Thousand Brains
Jeff Hawkins
Groundbreaking neuroscience theory revolutionizes our understanding of intelligence, brain function, and the future of artificial intelligence.
On Intelligence
Jeff Hawkins and Sandra Blakeslee
A groundbreaking theory on brain function and artificial intelligence by the inventor of the PalmPilot, challenging conventional wisdom.
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Community Voices
"Jeff Hawkins' new book, A Thousand Brains, introduces his ideas on the subject, written in a vigorous and engaging style"
— The Humanist
"Jeff Hawkins takes on questions most neuroscientists don't even dare ask"
— Henry Markram
"Jeff Hawkins is a visionary technologist and neuroscientist known for revolutionizing mobile computing"
— Computer History Museum
"Jeff Hawkins uses wonderfully clear and fast-moving prose to give an accessible overview of a theory of human intelligence"
— Michael Hasselmo
"Jeff Hawkins, Who Invented PalmPilot, Says He's Figured Out How The Brain Works"
— InformationWeek
"Jeff Hawkins' book is that rare beast: A new theory about one of the oldest mysteries, the mystery of intelligence"
— Anthony Zador
"Jeff Hawkins brought the world the PalmPilot and the Treo"
— Fortune
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
