Animal and artificial intelligence - Essay Example

Animal and artificial intelligence Introduction Intelligence is a single entity psychological concept that refers to an individual’s capacity of logic. The abstract noun refers to the ability of an individual to recognize features of the society thereby portraying both understanding and self-awareness. The definition of the concept proves that intelligence is a relative psychological feature that varies from an individual to another owing to the amount of exposure and the level of education that one has. However, intelligence relies on the consciousness of the mind with the basic definitions limiting the concept to the ability of an individual to recognize the basic social features. Additionally, a study of the concept has extended to animal and artificial intelligence both of which refer to special abilities of the plants and machines to behave in particular manners. Despite the numerous definitions and applications of the term, intelligence remains a single entity as the discussion below portrays. According to Reyna (2012), intelligence refers to the rational maturity of an individual. Intelligence refers to the ability of an individual to carry out the basic spatial manipulations, acquire a language and acquire basic problem solving techniques. While intelligence enables individuals gather such numerous knowledge, the concept remains a singular entity that relies on the mental capability of an individual. The confusion on the concept arises from the different psychometric approaches used in explaining the concept. Through such, different people have diverse definitions and applications of the term all of which prove that the concept is a singular entity. Despite the numerous definitions and psychometric approaches, the psychology scholars contend that intelligence refers to the mental ability of individuals that enable them acquire such basic skills as the ability to reason, communicate, think and solve problem among many others. Intelligence researchers have observed specific features that prove the cognitive abilities of both plants and animals. While the manifestation of intelligence is conspicuous in animals, observing the traits of intelligence in animals is difficult. However, the intelligence researchers observed particular differences in plants thereby concluding that such differences arise from the plants recognizing the different features of their environment thus adopting unique features through adaptation in order to resolve the problems (Gardner, 2007). Humphrey (1924) explains that artificial intelligence on the other hand refers to machine intelligence. The development of computers has enabled the infusion of artificial intelligence in different machines globally. Machine intelligence complements human intelligence in solving problems. Machines have unique features owing to the fact that they rely on electric power. This implies that machines can for example take particular functions repeatedly without tiring (Nidditch, 2001). This way, machines complement humans in solving problems especially with the infusion of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is a contemporary branch of computer science that seeks to develop computer programs that guide the operations of machines in undertaking articular functions. Artificial intelligence seeks to equip machines with reasoning and problem solving skills thereby increasing the efficiency of machines. Despite such dynamic developments, the cotemporary psychological features further prove the singularity of the concept. The computer is a creation of humans. This implies that the artificial intelligence developed in computers is a portrayal of human intelligence. Humans therefore fit specific intelligent features in computers with the view of using computers in solving problems (Simon & Binet, 2001). Intelligence is a psychological feature. Psychology on the other hand relies on the growth and developments in the society, which influence the psychological developments of individuals. The interrelationship of the concepts as explained imply that intelligence is dynamic and is likely to change, as was the case in the twentieth century. Apparently, in the twentieth century, the average intelligence quotient of humans increased a feature that convinces particular groups of people that intelligence is a multiple entity. Gardner (2007) asserts that as social feature, intelligence is likely to grow. Among the features that influence the mental abilities of individuals is both exposure and access to academics. As the world continues to develop and become a global village, interaction has intensified thereby exposing people to different features of the world. Additionally, the number of people receiving education globally is increasing. This implies that the mental abilities of people is likely to increase thereby advancing the problem solving skills, spatial manipulation and logic among other features that portray the manifestation of intelligence. The psychologists further content that the abilities above often vary in individuals owing to their social exposure a feature that influences growth and behavior acquisition. Societies vary depending on the level of economic and technological advancement. Through interactions, people acquire skills based on the problems they encounter on a daily basis. Different social features thus influence the growth and intellectual development of people. However, such further corroborate the singularity of the concept of intelligence. Psychologists contend that people learn basic skills equally among the basic skills that people acquire include the ability to acquire language skills, reasoning abilities and spatial manipulation skills albeit in varying depths. The development of such branches of intelligence such as animal, plant and artificial intelligence have influenced numerous people to believe that intelligence is a multiple entity. However, the functioning of the three other types of intelligence operates on the same basic skills that help in defining human intelligence. Just as explained earlier, people grow in different environments and societies a feature that influences their intelligence. The same applies to both plants and animals that grow in different environments thereby acquiring particular skills and behavior to fit them in such ecosystems (Reyna, 2012). Through the concepts of adaptation, plant and animal scientists explain the behavior and differences in plants and animals growing in different environments. Adaptive features result from the plants and animals recognizing the unique ecological features in their environments thereby adopting features that fit them into such ecosystems. Artificial intelligence is a simulation of human intelligence in machines. Humans use their intelligence just as any other living things in solving problems. However, unlike other animals and plants humans use machines in solving some of the problems. The development of artificial intelligence is therefore a way of improving the efficiency of machines thus improving their reliability. Humans therefore develop appropriate machines that address particular problems realistic to humans in the contemporary society. This implies that humans incorporate particular intelligence in machines depending on the reliability of such intelligence. Humans for example will infuse only the intelligence they have already acquired in the machines a feature that proves such as imitation of human intelligence (Reyna, 2012). In a summary, debates on intelligence are appropriate and in deed timely. However, most people are likely to confuse the concept a feature that validates claims that intelligence is a multiple entity. Despite such, the above argument proves that intelligence and associated studies have discovered different branches of intelligence including artificial intelligence, plant and animal intelligence. While such compound the concept, they do not contribute to the multiple nature of the entity but instead corroborate the singularity of the entity. The numerous branches operate on a singular principle, the mental ability of people and animals that influences their problem solving. The ability to solve problems relies on the ability to recognize the problem, analyses its unique features thereby developing realistic solutions that address particular features of the problem. The definition portrays various basic features similar in artificial intelligence, plant and animal intelligence thereby proving the singularity of the entity. References Gardner, F. (2007). The Psychology of Enhancing Human Performance. Spring Publishing Co. Humphrey, G. (1924). The psychology of the gestalt. Journal of Educational Psychology, 15(7), 401–412. Nidditch, P. (2001). An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Reyna, V. (2012). "A new institutionism: Meaning, memory, and development in Fuzzy-Trace Theory". Judgment and Decision Making 7 (3): 332–359. Simon, T. & Binet, A. (2001). The development of intelligence in children. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins. Read More