Emergence (or: How Ants Find Your Picnic Basket): Jane Adams at TEDxGallatin

Jane Adams is a graduate of the NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Her studies focused on the theory of emergence, the phenomenon by which simple systems governed by simple rules give rise to complex phenomena on a larger scale.
About New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study Creativity, flexibility and rigor characterize the academic program of the Gallatin School of Individualized Study. At Gallatin, students have the opportunity to combine the best of a small college experience with the best of a large research university. A Gallatin education is unique. The individualized structure of the program and its relationship to the rest of NYU are part of what makes the school so special. For more information visit gallatin.nyu.edu/
About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
video produced by Charles Q. Drexler
vfx animation by Michael J. Green
opening music by Gabriel S. Beam
Hyphenate Media
www.hyphenatemedia.com

[@kevinmathewson4272]

I thought she raised some especially good points at the end, when she spoke about how we might consider problems in economics and the social sciences from this bottom-up perspective. I think it's true that efforts to model these systems have focused on top-down interactions, while neglecting the emergent phenomena that perhaps play an equal or greater role in shaping the behavior of these systems.

[@damianchapman2169]

This is a wonderful talk. Thank you.

[@aishaibrahimabbas5867]

Beautiful human. Thank you TED talks.

[@psyche1468]

Kickass ! I work on this stuff. It was lovely to see such clarity of vision .

[@HMALDANA]

Very clear explanation, Jane.

[@justawordaway]

One of the best lectures I heard on TED. Was an absolute delight to watch this.

[@SelonNerias]

+Nagarjun Roy || I don't really agree that it was the best ever. Instead I wanted to let you know that she has a blog that isn't bad either. For some reason the description didn't link to any of her stuff, which is kind of weird so here you go: thequantumfantastic.wordpress.com/

[@machetebasterd]

quite possibly my favourite ted talk yet. love talking about ants without actually talking about ants!!

[@judy-9999]

bamdeedo She used ants to NOT talk about ants. She used the example of ants to discuss how our gov’t works, like how our brain functions. She was awesome. AND unlike highly paid actors who, because they understand nothing about which they’re speaking, she never used “um” or “uh” one ☝️ single time. AWESOME 👏😎Thank you.

[@bobconnolly1614]

An extremely cogent presentation that should be more widely seen...

[@ddabo4460]

Great video. Good job Jane!!!

[@latinaazucar]

I will never look at a single ant the same way again :) this was great, thk u.

[@wdheideman]

Don't let the entertainment industry fool you, there are many brilliant women who are also extremely beautiful as well. I have met, worked with and am related to many such women.

[@The44484448]

The ant antennas may be hooking in to omnipresent awareness which "tells" them or "shows" them what to do. Like a radio tuning into a song - the ants tune into the big ant model in the "sky".

[@dylanparker130]

interesting talk and very well given

[@manuelbranco173]

they have a keen sense of smell and direction

[@jg3000]

I think they have that idea they're are just weak alone. Even if the only thought going through the ant's mind is I'm trying to survive. Ants walking themselves to death sounds like they are hystical not knowing what to do.

[@Maxander2001]

From where do the human feelings come, do you think? Some other dimension? Outer space?

[@cirvo101]

Very delightful intelligent lady :)

[@benjaminwiner6220]

Damn she’s smart.

[@marianamartins1323]

bro that was good

[@MAFiA303]

a recent study showed there are 86 Billion neurons. and there are up to 100 Trillion synapses (connections between neurons).

[@inperspective]

Right...entire body may be a trillion cells. Yet still enough neurons to give our mind quantum processing power.

[@Tsnore]

How do ants stack up against alligators/crocs, cockroaches, or bacteria in their evolutionary stature?

[@machetebasterd]

+Tsnore if we're using biomass as a proxy, ants equal humans. although this does mean bacteria are superior seeing as something like 99% of all the genes you're carrying around belong to bacteria (not sure what this means for biomass), but they are equally relevant to emergence and collective behaviour.

[@cirvo101]

collective intelligence of humans can not be replicated by artificial intelligence for many reasons the most important being that humans do have feelings and therefore understand situations in a deeper manner , and only through this wisdom can problems get solved in the most beneficial and least destructive manner . Robots will never reach such an intellectual level of perception :) Apart from that YOU ARE AWESOME :)

[@SanjS]

She said BLANKETS a few times... :) "How Ants Find Your Picnic Basket"

[@shawnburnham1]

7:53

[@HolyReaperX01]

(cont.2) then my only advice is that you intensively research the scientific method,rules of logic and logical fallacies, and rational critiques of whatever philosophy or religion it is that you are subscribing to, and to be open to persuasion, because truth always withholds against the hard measure of proper skeptical criticism, and if whatever you believe does not, then it is not truth. Same goes for anything I or anyone else believe. And what stands true based on all our information (cont.3)

[@HolyReaperX01]

(cont.3) may no longer stand when new information arises, but that is how the scientific method functions, and with every new self-correction, it becomes more correct as a whole. It would be a shame if you failed to keep up with the ever-accelerating forward march that is scientific thinking at least somewhat. And you have the tools provided to do so, the internet and the library. Again, all I just said is what I have to say if your answer to emotions is some supernatural/spiritual (cont.4)

[@HolyReaperX01]

(cont.) however, if I'm wrong in my conclusion of your standpoint, then correct me. You accuse me of having a reduced understanding of psychology, however it is a fact that anything psychological is a product of our neurology. In saying this I am including our glial cells under my definition of neurology, because recent research has found they do play a role in neural transmission. Again, if your understanding in diluted with "beliefs" or "faith" of some sort of supernatural phenomena (cont.2)

[@aubreyjames8795]

lol except that publishing firms decide what TOPICS people will see and then google thus resulting with that topic being on the top.

[@offgridd]

Well spoken by an intelligent woman and disappointed too. Was looking for ants and not politics or AI

[@filipefranca5866]

Well. You did not understand what she was saying at all. Try watching again or to actually understand the concept of emergency! It will change your world view in a way you are not prepared to understand yet.

[@silversilk8438]

I also came looking to learn about ants. I wanted more detail about the ants, too.

[@michaimmanuel3919]

I blame your confusion on the rank sophistry of David Chalmers

[@valencearden559]

Cultural Transmission Chaining Reimagined As Value Added Transmission Chaining : The Emergence Of Rational Delineation Of Socio-Psychological Theory?

[@zagyex]

I missed how ants find the basket.

[@ryanalving3785]

Emergent behavior of relatively simple "agents" interacting as a collective with collective perceptual and cognitive abilities exceeding those of the parts of the collective 'superorganism'

[@filipefranca5866]

A single ant has no function at all in the world. But multiple ants have the full functionalities of a full living being. As if the colony of ants are the living thing, not the ants themselves.

[@zagyex]

@@filipefranca5866 but that is not more true to ants than humans.

[@filipefranca5866]

@@zagyex What? I dont understand you. Look emergency is the idea that any single particle (anything) interacting with another can create positive sinergy and become another thing altogether, a new system after the interaction. The same happens with humans. A single human do not make a company or a football team or even the concept of language. But 7 billion humans create the internet, companies, secret societies, football teams and so on.

[@HolyReaperX01]

(cont.4) explanation, because there isn't a single shred of empirical scientific peer-reviewed evidence for such an explanation. In fact, 100% of evidence is against the idea. Now, lack of evidence does not equate evidence of lacking, meaning that the fact that there is no evidence for it spirits or whatever doesn't mean they aren't there, but it does mean there is no point in believing in them for the same reason you don't believe in purple hippos that fly death starts, you could (cont.5)

[@HolyReaperX01]

(cont.5) believe anything you can imagine if you choose to believe in things without proper evidence, and that is of no use. If you have an alternative explanation based in scientifically sound evidence however, I would be delighted to hear.

[@guitarheros7204]

Yeah

[@polarbianarchy3333]

First let us teach the masses of people. Until we connect in cooperation, our collective human mind set, ecen in science, is 'us against them', so in your teachingvthe computer to learn, you teach them the dynamic paradigm to work within is, US agsinst THEM. It is how we think, the wsy wr exclude the other in calculations, etc. Teach computer will enhance humanity endlessly, but firdt, we need to come together as humanity. In my view of human evolution.

[@bobleclair5665]

Scent

[@Dude_Slick]

She's kinda cute for a nerd. I'm a bit of a nerd myself, but I sure ain't cute.

[@Roon_mubaraq]

So . . No ones would talk about 177013?

[@HolyReaperX01]

If computers can emulate neural activity, then there is absolutely no reason computers couldn't eventually have emotions. Emotions after all are simply a product of neural activity in the brain.

[@manuelbranco173]

tiny little compasses

[@GordoNLuv]

My God, she's beautiful.

[@Dude_Slick]

She's cute enough.

[@manuelbranco173]

they all know the spots

[@HolyReaperX01]

To think you can summarize my understanding of psychology by a singe comment I made on youtube is arrogant, and the way you went about saying it is border-line ad hominem. And you don't follow up your statement with any evidence as to why I am wrong. Now, if emotions are not simply a product of our neurology, then by implications i'm assuming you believe in some super-natural cause, in which case don't bother replying because I'm not going to bother trying to debate over facts themselves.(cont.)

[@manuelbranco173]

some of them are highly educated

[@manuelbranco173]

word of mouth

[@ryanalving3785]

This is very close to true actually

[@irreduciblemultiplicity5312]

the mind is not an algorithm. this is cray

[@manuelbranco173]

ant intuition

[@jordyn4858]

Be my wife!

[@NASTEfilms]

i smoke dried poop.

[@manuelbranco173]

Google Maps

[@cirvo101]

the fact is emotions are no just neural activity ! You have a reduced understanding of human psychology .

[@shawnburnham1]

7:51

[@shawnburnham1]

7:52

[@shawnburnham1]

7:49