COMPLEXITY Nature of Intelligence, Ep. 5: How do we assess intelligence?
125 snips
Nov 20, 2024 
In this discussion, Erica Cartmill, a cognitive science professor, and Ellie Pavlick, a computer science and linguistics expert, dive into the intricate nature of assessing intelligence. They critique traditional IQ tests while exploring historical perspectives on intelligence. The duo highlights communication differences between humans and animals, shedding light on social cognition. They also discuss the challenges in evaluating large language models, questioning conventional assessments and redefining what it means to understand intelligence across species.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Human-centric View of Intelligence
- Humans tend to overvalue their strengths and create hierarchies based on them.
- This human-centric view has historically shaped our understanding of intelligence, often excluding other species and forms of intelligence.
Elephant Communication
- Elephants communicate over long distances using low-frequency rumbles that travel through the ground.
- These rumbles are perceived by specialized cells in the pads of their feet, demonstrating intelligence beyond human sensory experience.
Animal Language Abilities
- Past research focused on teaching human language to animals like apes and parrots.
- While they could learn and use words, they didn't form complex sentences, suggesting limitations in syntax acquisition.
