Interpreting intelligence

Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly. It is a relatively new development in the course of human history. In the broader history of computing and AI, we see that progress has been accelerating rapidly over the last few decades. Given the name of 'artificial' intelligence, what capacity does it already have in mimicking human intelligence? What potential does it have in evolving these capabilities? What are the broader implications?

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There is currently no universally accepted definition of intelligence. It can be characterised in many ways, such as the ability to adapt to different environments, the ability to move towards goals, to learn and to solve problems, to name a few.

Although intelligence has most often been studied in humans, some claim that it is observed in non-human animals and plants. For example, octopuses have shown the capability to open jars for food, camouflage to protect themselves from predators, as well as to hunt. Living creatures have a tendency to try to survive, so in a sense, the evolution of intelligence can be seen as a byproduct of this drive to survive.

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It is important to have an ongoing discussion on the nature of intelligence, given the fast evolution of AI, so that we can continuously develop our understanding of its evolving capabilities. Our current understanding of intelligence may be inadequate in regard to understanding the trajectory of AI evolution and the broader implications.

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