Understanding Operational Intelligence

In response to a question from a reader of Part One of five parts, “Visual Thinking, Seeing Through Time,” I’ve added a supplement on ‘Operational Intelligence’ as an advanced form of understanding, which involves seeing, modeling, and acting under uncertainty. See the SUPPLEMENTS page.

These are thoughts arising from researching and writing “Visual Thinking…” (Available in print and ebook formats on Amazon). I hope the PDF stimulates thoughts and responses!

Standard IQ tests measure analytic reasoning under fixed rules. They do not directly measure “operational intelligence.” It is the ability to adapt, improvise, diagnose ambiguous situations, and solve novel problems in real time. This lack troubles me. AI software requires broader operational thinking. This kind of thinking is more akin to that valued by our ancient ancestors before the advent of ‘civilization’. It’s also akin to those who must find innovative solutions outside formulaic thinking.