IBM have announced that, through a series of innovations, they are now able to model the cortical structure on a large scale. Though this does not replicate specific neuronal structures, the team state that they will be able to copy various patterns such as “sense, perceive, interact and recognise”.
The article is accompanied by speculation on how computational structures emulating neural structures will prove useful as the flood of data and connections continue to explode. The shorthand of 'brainchip' and computers at the level of cats may be more of a stretch. Though if we are at the level of a cat in supercomputing, this is a tremendous advance.