Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman Ep34 "What is intelligence?"
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Nov 13, 2023 Delve into the concept of intelligence, including the limits and experiences of different levels. Explore the complexities of bat intelligence and the challenges in understanding and defining it. Discover the relationship between memory capacity and problem-solving skills. Dive into intelligence beyond working memory capacity and the complexities of AI. Question the nature of intelligence stored in vast networks of information and whether we can define and understand it before being overtaken.
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What It's Like To Be A Squirrel
- A squirrel's brain (~100 million neurons) lacks the capacity for human-scale abstractions like science or global infrastructure.
- Species differ by qualitative experience, not just neuron count, revealing intelligence as varied and domain-specific.
Descentive Species Story
- David Eagleman reads his fictional story 'Descentive Species' about choosing a simpler life as a horse and losing human perspective.
- The tale illustrates how descending intelligence can irreversibly erase understanding of higher states.
Size Isn't The Intelligence Signal
- Brain size alone does not determine intelligence; structure and algorithms matter more.
- Large and small brains can both solve complex tasks, like Big Ben and a wristwatch both telling time accurately.