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arXiv:0706.3639cs.AI

A Collection of Definitions of Intelligence

Shane Legg, Marcus Hutter

Abstract

This paper is a survey of a large number of informal definitions of ``intelligence'' that the authors have collected over the years. Naturally, compiling a complete list would be impossible as many definitions of intelligence are buried deep inside articles and books. Nevertheless, the 70-odd definitions presented here are, to the authors' knowledge, the largest and most well referenced collection there is.

arXiv comments
12 LaTeX pages
Journal reference
Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications, Vol.157 (2007) 17-24
DOI
Subjects
cs.AIArtificial Intelligence

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Linked by 6 identifiable commenters in 7 comments across 6 threads, from Mar 2016 to Oct 2025. Found in 3 HN submissions from Jul 2016 to Jul 2026. Open submission discussions.

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Discussed in comments6 threads

    • stop repeating that. first, it isn't true that intelligence is barely defined. https://arxiv.org/abs/0706.3639 second a definition is obviously not a prerequisite as evidenced by natural selection

      nh23423fefeView on HNParent context

    • > stop repeating that. first, it isn't true that intelligence is barely defined. https://arxiv.org/abs/0706.3639 I don't think he should stop, because I think he's right. We lack a definition of intelligence that doesn't do a lot of hand waving. You linked to a paper with 18…

      thomasdziedzicView on HNParent context

    • First, "artificial intelligence" is the name of the field of study that tries to build systems that act intelligently, not a term for referring to the produced systems. Even if some outcome isn't (or wasn't) yet particularly intelligent, the name of the field is entirely…

      PeterisPView on HNParent context

    • I think the Legg&Hutter definition "Intelligence measures an agent’s ability to achieve goals in a wide range of environments" [1] is quite relevant for this issue - once we consider not a technique for a specific task, but a single system adapted for a variety of tasks and…

      PeterisPView on HNParent context

    • > It is a term gaining in popularity due to this difficult to define definition and allows for more a porn like definition > Philosophers, psychologists, neuroscientists, and many others have been contemplating the definition of intelligence for centuries and we're still not…

      sinenomineView on HNParent context

    • FYI, there are a ton of definitions of 'intelligence', some fit with what AI algorithms can do, some don't. I found reading 'A Collection of Definitions of Intelligence' quite interesting myself https://arxiv.org/abs/0706.3639

      andreykView on HNParent context

    • Shane Legg (a DeepMind founder) and Marcus Hutter collected and categorized 70 different definitions of intelligence: http://arxiv.org/abs/0706.3639 Their attempt at a definition that synthesizes all the others is: > Intelligence measures an agent's ability to achieve goals in a…

      calvinsView on HNParent context

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