Episode 2
From playing computer games with chimpanzees to studying modern relationships, Jim Al-Khalili investigates how the brain evolved and how it differs from AI.
Physicist Jim Al-Khalili is on a mission to crack the 600-million-year mystery of how the human brain evolved.
Jim watches primates in action to see how they tackle survival challenges, revealing the clever tricks that shaped the brain's thinking. But the real breakthrough came when brains learned to be social. Teaming up with his wife, Jim investigates how relationships and friendships made people more intelligent.
With AI getting smarter by the day, Jim wants to know what makes biological brains so special. Through scans, fossil discoveries and cutting-edge research, he uncovers what makes the brain so hard to emulate.
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A game testing the cognitive power of chimps
Duration: 03:09
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Jim Al-Khalili |
| Director | Andrew Smith |
| Executive Producer | Paul Sen |
| Production Company | Furnace Limited |
Discover how MRI and fMRI work to reveal the brain’s activity and the body’s inner world
Learn about MRI and fMRI technology with The Open University.
