Assume for a moment that we can make artificial neurons that would be functionally identical to natural ones, and then we begin to gradually substitute neurons in brain with them. If consciousness would be preserved, then yes, the answer to your question is positive...
It would be hard enough to simulate a single neuron, let alone billions of them on the same scale is impossible (and illogical).
I'm not talking about simulation, you seem to have entirely missed my point. I speak about artificial neurons that would be functionally identical to our own. Actually, we don't even need to place them physically into the brain...
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It would be hard enough to emulate a single neuron, let alone billions of them on the same scale is impossible (and illogical).
It's not hard - cockroaches do it all the time.
Nature can do it.
My parents did it when they produced me - so it's technically possible to create neurons.
No need to emulate them - just make them
If you would be using neurons identical to our own then you wouldn't be creating anything, you'd be leaving most of the work to nature and creating human beings rather than robots (or biological robots at the very least)
also even clever A.I can be broken, unless we get reaper style A.I from Mass Effect then we really are screwed. 
