In his fascinating TED talk, “A new equation for Intelligence,” Alex Wissner-Gross discusses the way people can use intelligence, as a physical force, to maximize the diversity of possible futures. He elaborates on how future options can be kept open through the application of the study findings from the latest research in animal behavior, physics, and computer science. In such a case, the freedom of upcoming decisions is maximized by the intelligence, which Wissner-Gross (2013) likens to an engine called “Entropica” (5:38). This software can independently complete a series of complex tasks, such as earning money trading stocks, passing multiple intelligence tests, and playing human games using the overall function F = T ∇ Sτ. Therefore, this new equation of intelligence increases the possibility of making better decisions.
The TED talk covers wide-reaching and intriguing applications of this equation of intelligence. F stands for its force which acts to maximize forthcoming freedom of action, T represents the strength to maintain upcoming activities, while S denotes the diversity of probable accessible futures (Wissner-Gross, 2013). This TED talk presents many interesting ways this intelligence function can be used in the optimization of complex networks in biology and economics, but there are three key takeaways. The first one is that intelligence is a key component in controlling the universe through the application of the study finding from the researches on human behavior, physics, and computer science, by maximizing future options. The second is that it is crucial to consider anticipated outcomes, and goal-seeking is an essential part of maximizing future decisions, even if it means sacrificing today’s actions. Third, future freedom can be maximized by intelligence, which Wissner-Gross (2013) describes as a physical process that helps resist future confinement and allow diversity. Overall, it is an enthralling talk whose concepts can be applied in computer science, the philosophy of intelligence, biology, and economics, among others.
Reference
Wissner-Gross, A. (2013). A new equation for intelligence. [Video].