Intelligence is something that only describes one person. It is possible to describe all kinds of collectives, whether we are talking about social groups of humans, enclaves of insects, or even the mysterious behavior of slime mold.
By extension, could intelligence be observed on a much grander scale, perhaps that of an entire planet?
An open question is whether or not intelligence can operate at the planetary scale, and if so, how a transition to planetary-scale intelligence might occur and whether or not it has already occurred or is on our near-term horizon.
According to their own criteria, it looks like we are not there yet, as they note that understanding this question could help us to steer the future of our planet.
Adam Frank from the University of Rochester says that we don't yet have the ability to respond in the best interests of the planet.
There is intelligence on Earth, but not planetary intelligence.
According to the researchers, the emergence of technological intelligence on a planet is a common reference point in Astrobiology research.
The evolution of planetary intelligence would represent the acquisition and application of a collective body of knowledge across a complex system of different species at the same time, and in a harmonious way that benefits or sustains the whole biosphere.
Humans and Earth are not at that point yet.
Frank and his co-authors say we have only made it to the third stage of their hypothetical timeline for the development of planetary intelligence.
There are insufficient feedback loops between life and the environment on a planet with an immature biosphere that develops life.
Themature biosphere has developed in the second stage.
Earth is currently the third stage of an immature technosphere. Technology has developed on the planet, but it is not integrated with other systems, such as the physical environment.
If those tensions can be resolved, an immature technosphere can be developed to the final stage, where feedback loops between technological activity and other biogeochemical and biogeophysical states act in sync to ensure maximum stability and productivity.
The researchers argue that the idealized state is where Earth should be.
Frank says that planetary intelligence is indicative of when you get to a mature planet.
The million-dollar question is figuring out what planetary intelligence looks like and means for us in practice because we don't know how to move to a mature technosphere yet.
According to the researchers, we are not in control of the consequences of our actions.
We might evolve as a planet to the next level if we can develop a balance where the consequences become controlled.
The researchers wrote in their paper that a transition to planetary intelligence would have the hallmark property of intelligence.
Such planetary intelligence would be able to steer the future evolution of Earth, acting in concert with planetary systems and guided by a deep understanding of such systems.
The paper was published in a journal.
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