Jay McClelland, a cognitive scientist at Stanford, delves into the fascinating interplay of neural networks and human cognition. He discusses how these networks mimic brain functions and explores the evolutionary origins of intelligence. The conversation touches on the philosophical implications of consciousness and the transformation brought by backpropagation in machine learning. McClelland also reflects on the challenges of cognitive modeling and how simpler interactions can lead to complex emergent properties, shedding light on the nature of understanding and identity.