Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Schoolers, Undergraduates, Postgraduates and Professionals: A critical appraisal

Progressive development of the human brain, a marvel of evolution, underpins our intelligence.

- BY DR B. J. C. PERERA

Over millions of years, driven by many factors, the capabilities of the human brain have expanded significantly, particularly in the frontal areas and the prefrontal cortex. It facilitated advanced intellectual abilities like abstract thought, language, and problem-solving, setting humans apart and enabling unprecedented levels of learning and cultural variability. In human communication, the development of languages, which are symbolic expressions of thought, has revolutionised the ability of humans to interconnect with each other in a very meaningful way.

From early childhood to adulthood, human intelligence undergoes continuous development, influenced by both genetic predisposition and environmental factors. In infancy, and perhaps also for the first couple of years, intelligence is largely sensorimotor, with babies learning through direct interaction with their environment and developing object permanence. As children progress into the preoperational stage of about 2 to 7 years, symbolic thought and language emerge, though logical reasoning is still developing. The concrete operational stage of 7 to 11years brings logical thought for concrete situations, allowing children to grasp concepts like conservation. Finally, in the formal operational stage of age 12 and over and throughout adulthood, abstract thinking, hypothetical reasoning, and systematic problem-solving become prominent. While fluid intelligence, like problem-solving, may peak in early adulthood, crystallised intelligence, like knowledge and vocabulary, continues to grow well into middle age, demonstrating that intellectual development is a lifelong process.