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Jumping spiders are extremely intelligent for their size. Something they do when they encounter a complex problem is sit and apparently simulate potential solut

Jumping spiders are extremely intelligent for their size. Something they do when they encounter a complex problem is sit and apparently simulate potential solutions until they settle on a plan. Their solutions can involve indirect routes, paths that initially increase the distance to their targets, etc. Walking, or jumping, is inherent to their existence. But the ability to wait and iterate on possibilities is uncommon strategy for tiny things.

F3nd0 5mo ago
> Something they do when they encounter a complex problem is sit and apparently simulate potential solutions until they settle on a plan. Now imagine what ingenious plans they could come up with if only they took a walk instead of sitting while thinking!
echoangle 5mo ago
How did we find that out? Are they physically acting out the stuff they’re simulating or is there an EEG for insects?
- lexh 5mo ago
  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334693268_Portia's_capacity_to_decide_whether_a_detour_is_necessary https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334693268_Portia's_...
QuercusMax 5mo ago
Would be fun to see if they could learn to think with Portals
- Nevermark 5mo ago
  We might found out that not having our assumptions about topology gives them an advantage on us! They might be well adapted to twisty little passages too.
  - QuercusMax 5mo ago
    maybe someday we can put spiders in a VR harness, like we can do with mice now... https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-024-02554-6 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-024-02554-6 "Moculus"
    - Nevermark 5mo ago
      I think a better way to go is have a little palace/dollhouse they live in, made of tiles with circular pocket-doors for portal creation, and where adjacent rooms can be moved around quickly, to create portal-like wormhole effects. Perhaps with a few levels of large computer controlled, air-flow/transport surfaces. Then we breed them for size and superintelligence.
lobocinza 5mo ago
Have you read this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Time_(novel) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Time_(novel)

F3nd0 5mo ago

> Something they do when they encounter a complex problem is sit and apparently simulate potential solutions until they settle on a plan. Now imagine what ingenious plans they could come up with if only they took a walk instead of sitting while thinking!

echoangle 5mo ago

How did we find that out? Are they physically acting out the stuff they’re simulating or is there an EEG for insects?

lexh 5mo ago
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334693268_Portia's_capacity_to_decide_whether_a_detour_is_necessary https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334693268_Portia's_...

QuercusMax 5mo ago

Would be fun to see if they could learn to think with Portals

Nevermark 5mo ago
We might found out that not having our assumptions about topology gives them an advantage on us! They might be well adapted to twisty little passages too.
- QuercusMax 5mo ago
  maybe someday we can put spiders in a VR harness, like we can do with mice now... https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-024-02554-6 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-024-02554-6 "Moculus"
  - Nevermark 5mo ago
    I think a better way to go is have a little palace/dollhouse they live in, made of tiles with circular pocket-doors for portal creation, and where adjacent rooms can be moved around quickly, to create portal-like wormhole effects. Perhaps with a few levels of large computer controlled, air-flow/transport surfaces. Then we breed them for size and superintelligence.

lobocinza 5mo ago

Have you read this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Time_(novel) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Time_(novel)