A plea for Natural Intelligence in times of AI
The entire world is buzzing about the most recent Artificial Intelligence (AI) developments. Even those who reside under rocks are probably checking with ChatGPT if there are any superior rocks to live under. And they’d probably get good answers too!
The incredible power of AI cannot be ignored. But as we are all trying to figure out how it might affect our world, I think we should take a moment to consider something more meaningful.
What does AI tell us about ourselves?
What AI says about us
For all the doomsday theories that exist out there surrounding AI, it seems we forget AI is a tool that we are developing. Yes, AI could become a new species with intimidating qualities. But if it’s a newly created species of our design, aren’t we their gods? And doesn’t that mean we set the terms for its existence? So shouldn’t we consider what we value in our own existence first?
This might sound a little abstract to you, and if that’s the case, I’ll apologise in advance. Because it’s about to get a little more abstract, sorry!
I started writing this article because of a conversation I had some weeks ago. We concluded that we need a new definition for our own type of intellect in the context of AI. Because if that’s artificial, what’s our associated label of Intelligence? My suggestion was to call this ‘Natural Intelligence’.
Natural Intelligence & Rational Intelligence
Actually, since then, I’ve slightly changed my view. I realised it’s more nuanced than Natural Intelligence being the opposite of Artificial Intelligence. Actually, from my perspective, we don’t have AI at all. We have what I would call ARI. Artificial Rational Intelligence. An Artificial extension (or reflection) of our rational faculties. But there are plenty of other types of Intelligence out there. And the one I believe that’s most important, and also most undervalued, is Natural Intelligence.
So what is Natural Intelligence? The funny thing is that I believe you know what it means without me providing a definition. Which is also the perfect example of a characteristic of Natural Intelligence. It uses intuition to communicate with us, rather than thought, which is the domain of Rational Intelligence. Its insights seem to somehow be embedded in us. Almost like it taps into something beyond our direct and conscious experience. With intuition as the medium to provide us with these insights.
But I feel it’s good to make a distinction here. Natural Intelligence and intuition aren’t equated to each other. Just like Rational Intelligence and thought aren’t one and the same. They are connected, for sure. But not all intuition stems from using Natural Intelligence, and not all thought originates from using Rational Intelligence. It’s just how insights generated by these forms of Intelligence are passed on to us.
See? I warned you. The level of abstraction isn’t getting any better…
So let’s try to make this more concrete by looking at examples of Natural & Rational Intelligence as I see them.
Let’s start with Rational Intelligence.
In my view, Rational Intelligence thrives when memorising facts, applying logical thinking, or understanding abstract models. The model representative of this type of Intelligence is the theoretical physicist or mathematician. And its application can be found across all dimensions of our society. From the design of our judiciary system to that of our streets. Nearly everything is based on the use of this Intelligence. Even the hierarchy of quality in education is designed along the lines of how well students possess and apply this Intelligence.
Now let’s take a look at Natural Intelligence.
From my perspective, Natural Intelligence thrives when dealing with high complexity, engaging in social situations, and making fuzzy decisions. The model representative of this type of Intelligence is Mother Nature herself. You can see its application from the design of a leaf to the workings of complex ecosystems such as the Amazon. Everything is created in accordance with each other, without a central ‘mind’ determining the whole process (as far as we can prove). Each individual element understands how to be a part of the whole and what role to fullfil. A type of Intelligence that is criminally underrepresented in the design of our societies. If you ask me, at least.
Us vs animals
I think it all comes down to what we consider ‘intelligence’ in the first place. Natural Intelligence is not something new we have to learn or understand. It’s a part of who we are. We’ve merely over-emphasized another aspect of ourselves. But there’s a ‘good’ reason for this as well.
We’ve been looking for aspects of ourselves that set us apart from animals for centuries, if not millennia. We’ve come up with a bunch of answers in the process. The use of tools. The idea of self. The use of language (arguably another tool. But that’s a whole other conversation). Time after time, when attempting to prove the distinguishing element, we’ll find animal cousins that can exhibit one or more of these aspects. We always seem to come up short. To me, though, the answer is ‘simple’. Our ability to display Rational Intelligence sets us apart from other animals.
Consider what it means for us to be able to display this ability. Essentially, it allows us to create an alternative reality in our heads. Because an animal solely able to use intuition gets only one answer to a problem. With rational thinking, you can reject the intuitive answer captured in instinct. And then seek to explore an alternative solution by adopting the Rational Intelligence mode of our brain. Consider how revolutionary this invention is, for lack of a better word, within the framework of evolution. Suddenly an alternative answer to total subjection to the law of the jungle can be envisioned. Religions can be established, and societies can be created. Arguably all that we pride ourselves on and are ashamed of as humans find its root in rational thinking.
So it’s not strange that we’ve become so attached to Rational Intelligence. If we assume this sets us apart from other animals, it also must be at the root of all things humans have created. And therefore, you need to possess this Intelligence if you want to be a part of human systems. But the moment we really lost touch with our Natural Intelligence is when the pinnacle of Rational Intelligence took over Western society: Science.
The Influence of Science
Without diverging too much from my central point, I feel it’s necessary to spend a little time contemplating the massive influence scientific thinking has had on our societies. Mainly in the Western world initially. But these days, its influence can be felt everywhere.
Don’t get me wrong. This is not a critique of science or scientific thinking. Science has played an incredible role in alleviating so many of the problems we were dealing with on a societal scale. From poverty to pandemics. But its ability to provide us with falsifiable answers to our problems is also what’s made it become a barrier to finding solutions to the complex issues of our world today.
Because of all the magnificent solutions that science has provided us with, it’s also provided us with horrific new problems. And the core of this is that science is blind in its application. Knowledge can be generated for knowledge's sake. So long as you use Rational Intelligence and the method that science prescribes to create new knowledge, you’re doing something to be taken seriously. But any other approach to generating knowledge, insights, and solutions is disregarded. Feeling like something is the right thing (or wrong thing) to do is not enough. You need to provide ‘hard’ proof. But sometimes, we might benefit from depending more on the intuitive answer instead.
Conclusion
This is the main point I’m trying (and probably failing) to make. Rational Intelligence is a tool we can apply. And so is AI as an extension to it. But our Natural Intelligence isn’t any different. It’s a tool we can use as well. And just like you don’t use a hammer to eat ice cream, you need alternative tools for different situations. And if we don’t learn when to apply what intelligence tools we have and how to develop both, we’ll continue to make the same mistakes as before in new ways.
Or, as a pretty famous theoretical physicist said much more pointedly many years ago:
“We cannot solve problems at the same level of thinking that we were at when we created those problems.”
It’s about time we change our level of thinking to tackle the most pressing problems in the world today. Including AI. Imagine what ANI, Artificial Natural Intelligence, could look like by reflecting another aspect of who we are.
Or does that sound too irrational to you?
