Name: A thought experiment on the intelligence of crows
Uploaded: 2008-05-13T07:27:00Z
Duration: 9 min 46 s
Description: Hacker and writer Joshua Klein is fascinated by crows. (Notice the gleam of intelligence in their little black eyes?) After a long amateur study of corvid behavior, he's come up with an elegant thought experiment: a machine that could form a new bond between animal and human.

Hacker and writer Joshua Klein is fascinated by crows. (Notice the gleam of intelligence in their little black eyes?) After a long amateur study of corvid behavior, he's come up with an elegant thought experiment: a machine that could form a new bond between animal and human.

A thought experiment on the intelligence of crows

Crows have not just adapted to city life but have become highly skilled problem solvers, with brains sized in proportion to chimpanzees. In one striking example, a crow created a hook from wire to retrieve food—a feat previously unseen and untaught. By teaching crows to use a vending machine, new possibilities emerge for positive cooperation between humans and these clever birds. This approach suggests a future where animals considered pests could instead become useful collaborators.