Intelligence has been defined in many ways: pattern recognition, the capacity for logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. More generally, it can be described as the ability to perceive or infer information, and to retain it as knowledge to be applied towards adaptive behaviours within an environment or context.

Practical Task 1 - Stack Ranking Intelligence 

Rank the following in terms of its intelligence. Aware 1 – 15 points, where 15 is the most intelligent.

Figure 9. Stack rank these objects in terms of their relative intelligence

Dog

Dolphin

Washing Machine

Chess Playing Computer

Bacteria

Monkey

Tree

People

Self-Driving Car

Bee Hive

Robot

Smart Phone

Venus Fly Trap

Quiz Show Winning Computer

African Grey Parrot

Criteria: Can your object: recognise patterns, understand, learn, communicate, have emotions, be creative, adapt to its environment, or solve problems? 

Factors:

•      Processing power (brain or computing power)

•      Sensory inputs (e.g. eyes or sensors)

•      Communication and language