#20: What is Intelligence? Brains, Evolution, and A.I. with Max Bennett

Send a love messageMax Bennett is the author of 'A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains.'  In this episode Andrea Hiott and Max discuss his journey from working in AI technology commercialization to embarking on a five-year passion project that led to writing the book. He explains the motivation behind studying the discrepancies between human brain functionality and AI systems, resulting in several published papers and collaborations with neuroscientists. The discussion delves into intelligence before brains, as Max argues against the notion that intelligence is exclusive to brains, highlighting the evolutionary history and complexity of intelligence across different life forms. They cover various breakthroughs in understanding intelligence, including steering, reinforcement learning, and the emergence of language as a tool for sharing mental simulations. Their conversation touches upon the implications of language for human intelligence, its role in facilitating complex planning and cooperation, and the feedback loop it creates for refining thought processes. It also gets into the potential of AI in continuous learning and the challenges in achieving a system that learns in real time (like the human brain!)Max is at: https://www.abriefhistoryofintelligen...00:00 Welcome and Introduction to A Brief History of Intelligence00:14 The Genesis of a Passion Project: AI, Neuroscience, and a Side Project Turned Book02:05 Exploring Intelligence Beyond the Brain: From Single Cells to AI05:48 The Evolutionary Journey: Steering, Movement, and the Dawn of Intelligence13:24 From Simple Beginnings to Complex Systems: The Roomba's Evolutionary Echo15:40 Envisioning AI's Potential: Education, Healthcare, and Home Assistance20:10 The Evolution of Intelligence: From Steering to Reinforcement Learning28:24 Decoding Brain Algorithms: A New Approach to Understanding Intelligence28:36 The Complexity of Brain Functions and the Power of Algorithmic Thinking30:53 Exploring the Neocortex: Unveiling the Mysteries of Brain Structure33:20 Simulation and Mentalization: The Breakthroughs in Cognitive Mapping33:59 The Evolution of the Neocortex and Its Impact on Mammalian Intelligence49:53 The Role of Language in Human Evolution and AI Development53:55 Continual Learning and the Future of AI: Challenges and Opportunities55:10 Concluding Thoughts: The Journey of Discovery and Future Dialogues</#loveandphilosophy #intelligence #maxbennett #andreahiott #pFull intro and notes here.Care is not the opposite of love. It is the very urge of life. 'Caring for what?' is the primary question. That we have a choice about what we care for and how is what makes us human, but it's quite the challenge and responsibility. Let's help one another handle it.Support the showBuy Holding Paradox: The Navigational Approach to Mind and Consciousness by Andrea HiottSign up for Making Ways newsletter and projects.Please rate and review with love. YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Substack.