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What is intelligence anyway?

What is intelligence anyway?

Unpacking human and artificial brilliance

Mark Hazelby & Warren Hobden
September 01, 2023

Ever wondered how your own intelligence stacks up against a machine's? This week, we explore what intelligence means to humans and computers, and why understanding these differences is key to navigating what AI means for us and our future.

The spectrum of human intelligence

Human intelligence is not a single, unified thing—it's more like a vibrant palette of abilities. To name a few:

emotional intelligence: the ability to understand, use, and manage emotions
social intelligence: understanding social dynamics and interpersonal relationships
logical-mathematical intelligence: problem-solving and analytical reasoning
creativity: imagining solutions or artworks that are both original and useful

AI's specialised talents

Unlike humans, AI excels in very specific forms of intelligence:

data crunching: exceptional at analysing huge sets of data quickly
pattern recognition: superb at identifying patterns in data, images, or text.

Where AI falls short

While AI shines in data analysis and pattern recognition, it fails in other critical areas of intelligence:

empathy: AI cannot understand or feel emotions
ethical reasoning: decisions based on a complex ethical framework are beyond AI's capabilities

The 'aha' moments

Humans have the ability for intuitive leaps of understanding—our so-called "Aha!" moments. These are largely beyond the reach of current AI algorithms.

Why this matters for jobs

As we look toward a future where AI impacts our workplaces, understanding where humans have the edge—like tasks requiring high levels of emotional intelligence or ethical decision-making—becomes crucial. We’ll be delving into this much more over coming editions of the newsletter.