TED Radio Hour What we — and AI — can learn from nature's intelligence
71 snips
Jan 16, 2026 
Greg Gage is a neuroscientist who explores plant behaviors and even slime mold as a single-cell 'computer'. He reveals how the Venus flytrap counts to catch prey and how plants adapt their growth in response to touch. Frances Chance studies dragonfly brains, showcasing how they perform fast computations that could inspire energy-efficient AI. Keely Muscatell explains the connection between our immune system and social behavior, revealing how inflammation affects mood. Karen Bakker discusses decoding animal communications with AI, emphasizing the hidden wisdom found in nature.
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A Broad Definition Of Intelligence
- Greg Gage defines intelligence as getting to what you want given what you have, applying to cells through ecosystems.
- He argues every cell and organism shows forms of intelligence by solving survival problems.
Dragonfly Brains Use Tiny Fast Circuits
- Frances Chance explains dragonflies perform rapid coordinate transformations to intercept prey using at most four neural layers.
- Small, fast neural circuits suggest new, energy-efficient algorithms for engineered devices.
Build Brain-Inspired Low-Power Chips
- Frances Chance proposes building computer chips that mimic biological neurons to achieve low-power, fast computation.
- She suggests brain-inspired devices could dramatically reduce energy needs of sensors and drones.
