People, ants, and pianos

Collective intelligence is a captivating aspect of group dynamics. But are groups really more "intelligent" than individuals? Since groups and individuals tend to interact with the world at different scales - this question often makes little meaning. An exception comes from ants and humans, two of the rare species that can transport loads not only alone but also as part of a group. While hauling large loads relies on joint muscle power, navigating them through complex environments can benefit from collective cognitive abilities. In this talk I will describe how individuals and groups of either ants or people tackle scaled versions of an identical geometric load maneuvering (piano-movers') puzzle. By examining how problem-solving skills vary with group size in each species, I will draw comparisons between them.