How much money will be available for the most well-funded neuromorphic AI projects?

• Claim: Terry Sejnowsky, a leading neuroscientist at the Salk Institute, has argued that attempts to simulate the brain are "bound to fail, because the mind is too mysterious to model". Other neuroscientists have expressed similar sentiments. Brain simulation projects may never really be taken seriously.
  Implication: The leading project isn't very likely to have more than $10 million at its disposal to purchase computers for simulations. However, much lower than this is unlikely, as projects like Blue Brain have already been granted similar levels of funding.
  Source: Lehrer, Jonah. "Out of the Blue." Seed Magazine. 3 Mar. 2008. Retrieved 8 Aug. 2008 <http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/2008/03/out_of_the_blue.php?page=all&p=y>.

• Claim: AI would be of great value in everything from education to life extension research, from product design to helping humans become more rational. The economic and societal benefits of AI would be immense.
  Implication: Those in positions to dole out funding will adopt this view and invest heavily in neuromorphic AI projects, ultimately investing a similar amount as the Human Genome Project, which cost $3 billion, making around $500 million available for the computers themselves.
  Source: Voss, Peter. "Increased Intelligence, Improved Life." The Singularity Summit 2007. Palace of Fine Arts Theater, San Francisco. 8 Sept. 2007. Accelerating Future. 2 Oct. 2007. Retrieved 8 Aug. 2008 <http://www.acceleratingfuture.com/people-blog/?p=222>.

• Claim: Most AI research is not focused on general intelligence, but on specific projects with near-term results.
  Implication: A general intelligence project would be mostly ignored and would fail to get funding, maybe having $1 million or less at its disposal for computers.
  Source: Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. By Stuart J. Russell, Peter Norvig and John F. Canny. Upper Saddle River: Pearson plc, 1999. Pg. 25-26.

• Claim: Though neuromorphic AI may not get government funding, a wealthy individual, such as Microsoft's Paul Allen, may invest funds in such a project because of its large potential, even if the chance of success is not excellent.
  
  Implication: Funding for computers similar to the funding that was available for SpaceShipOne, the first commercial spaceplane — approximately $30 million.
  Source: David, Leonard. "Paul Allen Revealed as SpaceShipOne Investor." SPACE.com. 18 Dec. 2003. Retrieved 8 Aug. 2008
  <http://www.space.com/news/allen_rutan_031217.html>.