A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains

"I found this book amazing. I read it quickly because it was so interesting, then went back and re-read much of it." —Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize-winning economist and bestselling author of Thinking, Fast and Slow

"I've been recommending A Brief History of Intelligence to everyone I know. It presents a truly novel, beautifully crafted thesis on what intelligence is and how it has developed since the dawn of life itself." —Angela Duckworth, bestselling author of Grit

Blending elements from Sapiens, Behave, and Superintelligence, yet entirely original in its approach, A Brief History of Intelligence redefines how we think about neuroscience and AI. Artificial intelligence entrepreneur Max Bennett chronicles the five major "breakthroughs" in the evolution of human intelligence and explores what ancient brains can teach us about the AI of the future.

In the past decade, artificial intelligence capabilities that once seemed confined to science fiction have become reality. AI can now create original art, identify tumors in images, and even drive our cars. Yet, significant gaps remain in what modern AI can achieve—human brains still outperform AI in many intellectual tasks. How can AI defeat a chess grandmaster but struggle with loading a dishwasher? Max Bennett argues that the answer lies in the billion-year history of brain evolution, a history filled with missteps, disasters, and ingenious innovations. Our brains have a story to tell—and the future of AI might depend on it.

In A Brief History of Intelligence, Bennett bridges the worlds of neuroscience and AI to narrate the evolutionary story of the brain, showing how this history can guide the next generation of AI advancements. With a fresh perspective and the support of leading neuroscientists, Bennett condenses this vast history into an accessible framework, highlighting the "Five Breakthroughs" that represent the brain's most significant evolutionary leaps. Each breakthrough provides new insights into the mysteries of human intelligence and its parallels in AI development. Bennett illustrates where AI has caught up with or surpassed our brains and where it still lags behind. The message is clear: until AI can replicate each stage of our brain's evolutionary journey, it won't achieve human-like intelligence.

Praised by top neuroscientists, Bennett’s work synthesizes the latest scientific knowledge and cutting-edge research into a compelling and understandable evolutionary narrative. With its expansive scope and profound insights, A Brief History of Intelligence demonstrates that understanding our brain’s evolutionary arc is key to successfully navigating the future of technology.