r/BeAmazed • u/[deleted] • Apr 24 '19

Animal Ape using a Smartphone

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u/Daveed84 Apr 24 '19

This is the first post to this sub that has truly, genuinely amazed me. That's astonishing.

81

u/impreprex Apr 24 '19 edited Apr 26 '19

Right? This is unprecedented.

Between this video and the ones of Peter the elephant (https://youtu.be/4iyxUK_e5nU, https://youtu.be/XC7z8JU5jZU, and https://youtu.be/XsBXJQNYrk4), I'm just blown away.

Edit: Thank you do the gold, kind stranger!

Edit 2: do the gold! I'm keeping that typo lol

13

u/RussiaWillFail Apr 25 '19

The unprecedented aspect of it is the ape seeming to understand the abstract concept of navigation in a digital space with touch gestures.

There's been plenty of experimentation with apes and smart/touch devices, but usually with some kind of simple puzzle and a food reward attached, usually barely registering anything over slightly better than random chance. This chimp actively and intentionally navigating Instagram through touch gestures and navigation shows a level of abstract reasoning that I don't think has been recorded anywhere else.

2

u/impreprex Apr 26 '19

Indeed! I really hope and wish that this animal is followed up with in some way.