Two weeks ago, my wife and I found ourselves swamped with work and craving a lighthearted escape from our daily grind. We decided to unwind by watching the reality show "Perfect Match" on Netflix. Little did we know that this seemingly trivial choice would reveal a fascinating insight into our human nature.
"Perfect Match" follows a simple premise: several couples live together in a house and participate in various competitions. The winning couple can invite two new people to the house, while sending some of the losing couples' members on a blind date. By the end of each episode, new couples are formed, and the two individuals left uncoupled must leave the show.
As we watched, I noticed that the most intriguing aspect of the show was listening to the contestants rationalize their actions, particularly when they switched partners. This led to a striking revelation: the show's dynamics closely resemble the social dynamics of primate groups.
The uncanny similarity between our behavior and that of our primate relatives was both fascinating and unsettling. Our interest in the show was rooted in our basic biological instincts – the very foundation of our evolutionary activity. As social primates, it is crucial for us to find the right partner and understand the motivations of others in our group. "Perfect Match" appealed to us because it tapped into these core instincts.
This observation serves as a humbling reminder that, despite our intellect and achievements in fields such as quantum mechanics, relativity, and AI, we are still a species of primates. Our fascination with seemingly simple things can be explained by their connection to our fundamental biological drives.
As we continue to study and develop AI, it is essential to remain self-aware and recognize our inherent biases. Our evolutionary history likely influences our perception of the world far more than we realize. By acknowledging our humble origins, we can approach the development of AI and other technologies with a greater understanding of our own nature and, in turn, create innovations that better serve our collective needs.