Yesterday, I was thinking that almost all approaches to Artificial Intelligence attempt to simulate parallelization. Be it neural networks, Genetic Algorithms, Searching methods, etc. All attempt to simulate techniques which depend upon parallelization.
This gives me an intuitive feel that the very basic requirement of intelligence is parallel processing. Hundreds of processes taking place simultaneously. In computers we have a serial processor. However, if we have a massive parallel computer (no matter how weak individual processing items may be) we can create artificial intelligence.
In contrast this, our own mind, even though is massively parallel, works in a serial manner. When you are concentrating of one thing, it is very difficult to think of other things. It seems it is some kinda paradox.
Paradox: Natural intelligence arises by simulation of serial computation on parallel hardware. And Artificial Intelligence works by simulating parallel computation on serial hardware.
How can this paradox be resolved?
I think this paradox of yours comes from misinterpreting the concept of consciousness as intelligence. Human consciousness can focus to one thread or another, but in the background millions of other threads are running, either for sub-conscious thinking, memory, motoric tasks etc, with no CPU or whatever. And these are important parts of our mind.