A system, method and computer program for developing artificial intelligence through the generational evolution of one or more genomes. Each genome includes a set of functions. The method includes creating one or more cortices, operating the one or more cortices to perform one or more specified tasks, calculating a fitness score for each cortex based on its ability to perform the specified tasks, and selecting one or more of the cortices based on the respective fitness scores. Each cortex includes a plurality of cortical units. Each cortical unit includes a set of functions. Each cortical unit is created from the one or more genomes.