Genius or Forgetful? Decoding Moravec’s Paradox

In the latest episode of My Weird Prompts, brothers Herman and Corn Poppleberry tackle a paradox that has defined the lives of thinkers from Archimedes to modern Silicon Valley engineers: the "absent-minded professor." The discussion, sparked by a prompt from their housemate Daniel, moves beyond the comedic trope of a genius forgetting his trousers and dives into the complex neurological architecture that allows a brain to master quantum physics while simultaneously failing to remember where it placed a set of car keys ten minutes prior.

The Paradox of High-Level Reasoning

Herman begins the discussion by introducing Moravec’s Paradox, a cornerstone concept in artificial intelligence and robotics. The paradox posits that high-level reasoning—the kind of abstract logic required for chess or mathematics—actually requires very little computational power. In contrast, low-level sensorimotor skills, such as walking through a cluttered room or folding laundry, require enormous computational resources.

Corn notes that society often assumes "if you can do the hard stuff, the easy stuff should be free." However, as Herman explains, the brain does not operate on a linear scale of difficulty. For the human brain, the "easy" stuff—the mundane maintenance of daily life—is actually computationally expensive. This discrepancy is at the heart of why someone might be able to build a large language model from scratch but struggle with the executive function required to take out the trash.

The Spiky Profile of Intelligence

A central theme of the episode is the concept of the "spiky profile." Corn and Herman contrast the "flat profile" of neurotypical individuals, whose abilities across various domains like verbal reasoning and working memory are relatively consistent, with the "spiky" nature of neurodivergent individuals.

Herman points out that many people with ADHD or other neurodivergent traits possess massive peaks in fluid intelligence—the ability to solve novel problems and identify complex patterns—alongside deep valleys in executive function. These valleys are governed by the prefrontal cortex, which Herman likens to an orchestral conductor. In the "absent-minded" brain, this conductor might be brilliant at leading a complex symphony of abstract thought but may completely forget to ensure the musicians have shown up on time. This leads to a "spiky" competence that confuses observers, who assume that high intelligence in one area should naturally translate to competence in all others.

The Interest-Based Nervous System

The brothers delve into the work of Dr. William Dodson, specifically the "interest-based nervous system." Herman explains that while most people have a "priority-based" nervous system that can rank tasks based on importance or consequence, many neurodivergent brains only engage when a task provides a specific type of neurological fuel: novelty, challenge, urgency, or deep personal interest.

This is why, as Corn observes, activities like coding or scientific research can lead to intense states of hyperfocus. These high-stimulation environments act as a "dopamine goldmine" for a brain that might otherwise have a baseline deficiency. Conversely, under-stimulating tasks like making a bed or filing taxes fail to trigger the necessary dopamine response, making them feel physically and mentally exhausting to initiate. Corn uses the vivid analogy of a high-performance sports car trying to run on low-grade fuel—it simply sputters and stalls, regardless of the engine's potential.

Silicon Versions of the Paradox

Perhaps the most provocative part of the discussion is the comparison between the "absent-minded professor" and modern artificial intelligence. Corn suggests that in our quest to create advanced AI, we are essentially building "silicon versions" of the spiky profile.

Large language models (LLMs) possess incredible depth in linguistic and logical capabilities, yet they notoriously lack "common sense" or embodied practical intelligence. Just as a brilliant professor might forget a toaster shouldn't go in a bathtub, an AI can write a masterpiece of poetry while failing to understand the basic physical reality of the world it is describing. Herman agrees, noting that we are increasingly living in a world that values these high peaks of specialized logic while underestimating the "embodied intelligence" required to navigate the physical world.

Navigating the Valleys

The episode concludes with practical advice for those who find themselves living with a spiky cognitive profile. Herman emphasizes the importance of moving away from the phrase "living up to your potential," which he argues has been used to shame neurodivergent people for decades. Instead of forcing a "specialized" brain to act like a "generalized" one, the focus should be on building external structures to support the internal valleys.

Herman shares his own reliance on technology—using calendars, multiple alerts, and the "point of use" principle (placing items exactly where they will be needed) to reduce the cognitive load on his executive function. Corn highlights the "body doubling" technique, where the mere presence of another person can provide the social grounding necessary to keep a wandering brain on task.

Ultimately, Herman and Corn argue for a shift toward self-compassion. By understanding that absent-mindedness is often a byproduct of a highly specialized cognitive architecture rather than a character flaw or a lack of discipline, individuals can stop fighting their own biology and start designing lives that celebrate their peaks while safely bridging their valleys.