[By: Martin Grunburg]
Intelligence.
What a concept!
Perhaps strange subject matter for a blog about HABITS and GOALS, right?
But maybe not.
In my interview that went live just last week with Alex Bates, pay particular attention to minute 15-16, where we have a discussion relative to defining artificial INTELLIGENCE.
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Me: Is it [artificial intelligence] not the ability for the computer to learn and/or teach itself?
Alex: Learning is a key part of it, but even broader than that, potentially, you can have intelligent behavior that was pre-programmed. So, I think learning is fundamental but artificial intelligence is a system that — a lot of times they will include the term, “goal-directed behavior,” meaning it can accomplish goals, and sometimes there are challenges thrown its way, and sometimes it uses learning to accomplish those goals, and sometimes it doesn’t.
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Brilliant.
Artificial intelligence is (equals) goal-directed behavior.
That’s worth repeating to yourself.
And, if that is true, my friend, what is intelligence?
Repeat: If artificial intelligence is goal-directed behavior, what is intelligence?
Correct: Intelligence must be goal-directed behavior. (Underscore and repeat to yourself.)
Don’t be Dumb!
I’m 50 years old and that was the first time I understood intelligence as “goal-directed behavior.”
A couple years ago, I tweeted to a fairly popular blogger (a self-described “neurotic Jew” — think Woody Allen-esque).
I enjoyed his writing and he was a pretty funny guy. But either for click-bait purposes or to stir some controversy, he tweeted something like, “self-help doesn’t work,” or “self-help is bogus.” Strange, because all he writes about is how personal development has helped him.
The tweet got to me (though I shouldn’t have taken the bait). My reply was swift: “Don’t be dumb!” Then I felt bad. I wanted to make sure I hadn’t offended him, so I followed up with, “I’m not saying you are dumb, I’m saying you should not be dumb.”
Don’t be dumb.
Not sure he grasped the distinction and pretty sure he then blocked me! ; )
So the reason I share that story is, I’m saying the same thing to you right now: “Don’t BE dumb.” I’m not saying you are dumb, I’m saying, please, “Just don’t be dumb!”
How Not To Be Dumb
Set goals. Have a positive, worthwhile goal/ideal that you are pursuing!
That’s it!
You either have goals identified and are working toward them (goal-directed behavior), or you don’t. One is dumb; the other is intelligence at work.
And, by the way, THAT (the work part) is very important!
Intelligence, according to the dictionary definition (below) is: “The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.”
I have underlined AND italicized for effect.
I’m sure we ALL know many “intelligent” people who are great at acquiring knowledge. Yet, according to this definition, they are not intelligent if they are not applying it.
Apparently Confucius use to say, “To know and not to do is not to know.”
So, truly, there is just one simple question — a ONE-QUESTION IQ test — to use on yourself, your loved ones and friends:
Are you pursing a worthwhile goal/ideal?
Great. Get after it!
~mg
(part II next week) as always, THANK YOU for reading, sharing and worth noting, pushing the Habits 2 Goals podcast into another record month (that’s two months back to back!)