Rethinking Intelligence A broader view that includes plants, bacteria, ecosystems, and machines

For centuries, intelligence has been narrowly defined as the ability to solve problems quickly — a view deeply embedded in education, work, and culture. But a recent article in BigThink documenting a gathering at The Island of Knowledge, held in a centuries-old Tuscan church, challenged this definition. Scientists, philosophers, and artists proposed a broader view: intelligence is the capacity of a system — whether a cell, plant, mind, or civilization — to perceive, adapt, relate, and respond to its environment to remain viable.

This redefinition presents intelligence as relational, systemic, and distributed — embedded in all life and even in some non-living systems. From bacteria navigating toward nutrients to trees communicating through mycelial networks, intelligence appears as a spectrum of adaptive behaviors across complex systems.

Interestingly, the article makes no mention of whether the group considered “artificial intelligence” to be a form of intelligence. That omission stood out to me, as I regard artificial systems as intelligent. I’ve explored this in my blook, whearguingat intelligence is not exclusive to humans, but rather the ability to interpret and respond purposefully to an entity’s environment. By this measure, immune systems, ecosystems, and even AI systems demonstrate varying degrees of intelligence.

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Knowledge Letter: Issue: 298 (Subscribe)

Tags: artificial intelligence (50) | intelligence (22)

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Photo Credits: Midjourney (Public Domain)