Brain and Intelligence Lab

Two Types of Intelligence: Natural and Human

Shi Gu, Published on Oct 21, 2025


We can conceptualize two primary types of intelligence:

  • Type-I (Natural) Intelligence: This is an innate, embodied capability seemingly accessible to nearly all living beings.
  • Type-II (Human) Intelligence: This is a constructed, abstract form of understanding, created by human intellect and represented through formal systems like logic and mathematics.

These two types might be best developed using different approaches:

  • For Type-I, methods like reinforcement learning seem most suitable, particularly for applications like robotics. The ultimate solution for achieving true Type-I intelligence may lie in comprehensive world simulation.
    Analogy: A cat knows nothing of physics but possesses perfect mastery over its own body.
  • For Type-II, the most promising path may be through large language models and prompt-based learning. A complete understanding of this intelligence likely depends on discovering the proper formal representations and rules.
    Analogy: Stephen Hawking, who lacked physical control, could still comprehend the mysteries of black holes he had never directly observed.

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