Intelligence has been a much debated topic. Different reasons are attributed for the formation of intelligence in species. This article discusses intelligence in different species and tries to assess the reasons for the evolution of intelligence. It also tries to find the source of intelligence in intelligent life forms.
Introduction
Genetic variation has a significant impact on intelligence. Intelligence is seen as a product of interaction between different genes. Intelligence is co-related to brain structure and the genes shaping brain development.
"Part of the trouble is that nobody knows what AI is. In fact, nobody even knows what I is. While consciousness is something we all have and enjoy every second of our waking lives, nobody knows how it all really works. A thought is as difficult to isolate from our mental experiences as a single breath of wind is from the weather."- Rupert Goodwins[1]
Introduction 
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Intelligence has always been a much debated topic, since Darwin’s theory of evolution[2]. Evolution lets different strains to take on different forms over a period of time. Genetics plays a big part in letting one species evolve into different species.
Human intelligence evolved over millions of years[3]. Dogs evolved from wolves[4]. The evolution of more intelligent species is genetically triggered.
Different Forms of Intelligence
Intelligence found among us are varied in nature. They are synonymous with life forms. Life forms without the ability to move around or locomotion and senses of communication are termed as non-intelligent. Life forms which can move around and have senses of communication such as hearing, smell, vision and taste are termed intelligent. Thus, bricks, houses, roads and vehicles are non-intelligent life forms, so are trees, plants, shrubs, and forests. Humans and animals are intelligent life forms.
Characteristics of Intelligence
The characteristics of inteligence are the following in the order of importance:
- Locomotion.
- Senses-Hearing, Smell, Sensation(Skin) and Speech.
- Thought-Ability to perform actions.
Causes of Intelligence
Different reasons are attributed for formation of intelligence in species. The main causes are biological and environmental:
- Biological
Genetic variation has a significant impact on intelligence. Intelligence is seen as a product of interaction between different genes. Intelligence is co-related to brain structure and the genes shaping brain development.
- Environmental
Animal Intelligence
Animals too display intelligence in different ways. This is known as Animal Cognition. Apes are known to be most intelligent among animals. This was perhaps also the reason, man evolved from among them. Wolves are known to be a species with great hunting skills-night vision, smell and hearing. This was the reason dogs evolved from them.
Wolfgang Köhler has a book on the intelligence of apes. Stanley Coren's book, "The Intelligence of Dogs" is a notable popular book on the topic. Chimpanzees and bonobos (using the Kanzi language) are known to be able to communicate. Dolphins, elephants among mammals and parrots and ravens among birds are also know to show such properties.
Cephalopod intelligence are also known to display certain intelligence. Cephalopods appear to exhibit characteristics of significant intelligence, though their nervous systems differ radically from those of most other notably intelligent life-forms (mammals and birds).
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Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (or AI) is both the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science which aims to create it, through "the study and design of intelligent agents" or "rational agents", where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions which maximize its chances of success. General intelligence or strong AI has not yet been achieved and is a long-term goal of AI research.
Among the traits that researchers hope machines will exhibit are reasoning, knowledge, planning, learning, communication, perception and the ability to move and manipulate objects.
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Conclusion
Intelligence is a feature of life forms. This intelligence is not found in life less forms such as brick houses, vehicles, tables and chairs as also trees, shrubs and plants. Much of intelligence is known to be connected with thought. And, thought is known to be a figment of the sub-conscious. Hence, intelligence can be said to be a form of the sub conscious. Evolution and genetics play an important role in deciding intelligence.
Animal intelligence is seen among chimpanzees, dogs, and elephants among mammals. Parrots and ravens among birds. Octopuses and squids among cephalapods.
Artificial intelligence is a goal to develop intelligence in machines. Great hopes are vested in this goal. Most of this intelligence presently hovers around logical decision making, communication, ability to understand commands and to carry out physical tasks and jobs.
References
- http://www.aaai.org/AITopics/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/AITopics/NatureOfIntelligence
- http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/What-Darwin-Didnt-Know.html
- http://www.ecotao.com/holism/huevo/
- http://www.dog-names.org.uk/history-evolution-dogs.htm
- http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v114/n2875/abs/114819a0.html
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