[Abstract]

Intelligence has long been a central topic in psychology, leading to the development of a wide range of intelligence tests that have proven useful in educational and industrial settings. In recent years, however, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence—often surpassing human capabilities in specific domains—has sparked renewed interest in the nature and limits of intelligence itself. How can we meaningfully assess and describe forms of intelligence that extend beyond the human range? Comparative cognition, a field dedicated to examining cognitive abilities across species, offers valuable insights and methodologies for addressing this question. By drawing on decades of research comparing human and non-human minds, this review explores how a comparative approach can inform our understanding of both natural and artificial intelligence, particularly as we confront the highs and lows of intelligence in its many evolving forms.

[Biography]

Professor June-Seek Choi’s research focuses on neurophysiological mechanisms of fear-motivated behavior in rodents with an emphasis on ethological paradigms. His laboratory utilizes various methods including electrophysiological and optical recordings from behaving animals, machine learning analysis of behavior and neuronal signals, and pharmacological and optogenetic stimulation, toward an ultimate goal of constructing a comprehensive and quantitative model of naturalistic behavior. He is also an expert in associative theories of learning. He studied biology and psychology and received PhD in Neuroscience and Behavior from University of Massachusetts Amherst followed by postdoctoral work at Yale University and New York University. He is currently leading a research group on brain-inspired artificial intelligence funded by Korea government putting academic and administrative effort in bridging neuroscience and computer science.