The term "para" means "beyond" or "beside" and, in the context of intelligence, refers to a type of intelligence that exists beyond what is traditionally recognized as intelligence, including notions such as intuition, creativity, and emotional intelligence that are often overlooked in traditional definitions of intelligence. Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, refers to the intelligence displayed by machines that have been programmed to simulate human cognitive functions such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. When we think of intelligence, we usually think of anthropocentric cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, logic, and reasoning. However, intelligence is actually a complex and multifaceted concept that goes beyond these cognitive abilities. For example, fungi, such as the slime mold Physarum polycephalum, also exhibit intelligent behaviors such as navigation, memory, and adaptation. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities, this year we aim to redefine the definition of intelligence in order to understand and predict how it will evolve and what the consequences will be for human and non-human beings on this planet.
