I think that machine learning probably can produce something akin to a brain, but LLMs are not really it even if they use the digital equivalent of a neuron. As much as I understand what I read about LLMs they really seem to be descendants of Markov chains. I think they are valuable and can go a long way, but LLMs themselves will not be "it". I think that we will get to a ceiling with them within 10 years if we will not think about something else. I think the ceiling can be made pretty high though.

However most probably in 10 years we will all laugh how all of our predictions missed by a long shot.