A Brief History of Intelligence
Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains
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Narrated by:
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George Newbern
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Written by:
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Max Bennett
About this listen
Equal parts Sapiens, Behave, and Superintelligence, but wholly original in scope, A Brief History of Intelligence offers a paradigm shift for how we understand neuroscience and AI. Artificial intelligence entrepreneur Max Bennett chronicles the five “breakthroughs” in the evolution of human intelligence and reveals what brains of the past can tell us about the AI of tomorrow.
In the last decade, capabilities of artificial intelligence that had long been the realm of science fiction have, for the first time, become our reality. AI is now able to produce original art, identify tumors in pictures, and even steer our cars. And yet, large gaps remain in what modern AI systems can achieve—indeed, human brains still easily perform intellectual feats that we can’t replicate in AI systems. How is it possible that AI can beat a grandmaster at chess but can’t effectively load a dishwasher? As AI entrepreneur Max Bennett compellingly argues, finding the answer requires diving into the billion-year history of how the human brain evolved; a history filled with countless half-starts, calamities, and clever innovations. Not only do our brains have a story to tell—the future of AI may depend on it.
Now, in A Brief History of Intelligence, Bennett bridges the gap between neuroscience and AI to tell the brain’s evolutionary story, revealing how understanding that story can help shape the next generation of AI breakthroughs. Deploying a fresh perspective and working with the support of many top minds in neuroscience, Bennett consolidates this immense history into an approachable new framework, identifying the “Five Breakthroughs” that mark the brain’s most important evolutionary leaps forward. Each breakthrough brings new insight into the biggest mysteries of human intelligence. Containing fascinating corollaries to developments in AI, A Brief History of Intelligence shows where current AI systems have matched or surpassed our brains, as well as where AI systems still fall short. Simply put, until AI systems successfully replicate each part of our brain’s long journey, AI systems will fail to exhibit human-like intelligence.
Endorsed and lauded by many of the top neuroscientists in the field today, Bennett’s work synthesizes the most relevant scientific knowledge and cutting-edge research into an easy-to-understand and riveting evolutionary story. With sweeping scope and stunning insights, A Brief History of Intelligence proves that understanding the arc of our brain’s history can unlock the tools for successfully navigating our technological future.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2023 Max Solomon Bennett (P)2023 HarperCollins PublishersYou may also enjoy...
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What listeners say about A Brief History of Intelligence
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- Kindle Customer
- 2024-02-04
Delivers!
Fantastic roundup of research and ideas about the origins and meaning of intelligen e from Helmholtz to Suddendorf.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2024-05-31
Nicely researched.
This is a great listen. To those interested about how the mind works and how it relates and differs from AI. A nice walk through the history of intelligence. Learned many interesting things and connections. Recommended.
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- George Young
- 2024-05-30
Audio Editing and Recording are Dreadful
I was very pleased that the author had Lisa Feldman Barrett in his bibliography. Anyone writing about the brain without her input is out of date!
I am still listening to the book and am really enjoying the measured and thoughtful insights.
What I am startled by is the dreadful editing. The additions are clearly recorded poorly and yet were cut into the performance. George Newbern's performance is messed with. I listen while I am walking and some of the edits triggered my attention as if something threatening was happening around me. Not very pleasant. Whoever did the recording of the edits, and whoever allowed them to be used should not be allowed near audio recording: your mistakes are there for all to hear!
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