This interesting short TED talk by Hod Lipson shows the direction he feels technology is taking us in the future
TED Talk Video
More interesting is what his theory is based upon. It basically started with the Double Pendulm experiment
and their Eureka program design to ferret out natural laws from observing patterns.
Working out the laws of nature

Radio Lab in New York did and interesting interview in their program on "Human Limits" where they looked at what was being done
and Lipson was candid about what they were finding. A recent collaboration with a biologist asking them to run cell fluid motion through their program, turned up a new law which explains the workings of a cell system....YET.... they cannot publish because they cannot understand the new Law.
In short, they lack the flash of insight which is necessary to turn DATA into Knowledge. They have found that with all these new computers and creative software, they can crunch the DATA and come up with novel new solutions, but they don't know how it was achieved. They are missing that John Nash, Issac Newton flash of insight that brings with it understanding.

This is one reason, I believe that we will not achieve consciousness in AI form.