Monday, October 13, 2025

Gemini on Ranking People

 I asked Gemini “How can AI compare the intelligence of a group of people and rank them?” Here is the answer.

Comparing and ranking human intelligence with AI is a complex and highly controversial topic. While AI can analyze data to create rankings based on specific, predefined criteria, it cannot truly measure or understand the multifaceted nature of human intelligence. Here's a breakdown of how it could be approached, along with the significant ethical issues involved.

How an AI System Could Rank People

An AI system would need to be trained on a massive dataset to identify patterns and rank individuals based on a specific, narrow definition of "intelligence." It would not be able to measure something as broad as general intelligence but could evaluate performance on specific tasks or against a set of predetermined metrics.

 * Data Collection: The system would need a wealth of data about each person. This could include information from resumes (education, work experience), performance on tests (like IQ tests or skill assessments), and even behavioral data from things like online activity or job interviews. For example, AI can analyze video interviews for specific keywords, tone of voice, and even facial expressions.

 * Feature Engineering: An AI model would need "features" to analyze. These are the specific metrics it would use to make its comparisons. Examples include:

   * Academic Achievement: Grades, degrees from specific universities, or test scores.

   * Skill Proficiency: Performance on coding challenges, design portfolios, or other practical tests.

   * Problem-Solving Speed: The time it takes to complete a puzzle or solve a logical reasoning problem.

 * Algorithm and Ranking: Once the data is in place, the AI would use a machine learning algorithm to weigh these features and create a ranking. A simple algorithm might give more weight to a higher GPA, while a more complex one could look for correlations between certain skills and successful performance in a specific role.

For instance, in a corporate hiring scenario, an AI could be trained on data from successful employees to identify the most common traits and skills. It would then rank new job applicants based on how closely their resumes, test results, and interview performance align with those of the "model" employees.

🚩 Major Ethical Implications

Using AI to rank people based on intelligence is fraught with ethical dangers. The biggest concerns revolve around bias, transparency, and the reduction of human worth.

 * Algorithmic Bias: AI systems are only as good as the data they're trained on. If the historical data is biased, the AI will learn and amplify those biases. For example, an AI trained on hiring data from a male-dominated industry might learn to favor male applicants, unintentionally discriminating against women. This can perpetuate societal inequalities.

 * The "Black Box" Problem: Many AI models, especially deep learning networks, are "black boxes." This means their decision-making processes are not easily understandable by humans. If an AI ranks someone lower, it can be nearly impossible to explain why, which raises significant issues of fairness and accountability.

 * Oversimplification of Intelligence: Human intelligence is incredibly complex and includes creativity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and social skills. An AI can only measure what it's been explicitly programmed to look for, which would likely be a very narrow, data-driven definition of intelligence. It would miss the nuances that are often most important in human interactions and problem-solving.

 * Loss of Human Dignity and Autonomy: Reducing a person's worth to a single, AI-generated number can have a dehumanizing effect. It removes the human element of evaluation and judgment, potentially leading to a society where people are sorted and categorized by an opaque, automated system.