Platte Valley Medical Center

Is there an upper limit to "intelligence"? While investigations of intelligence date back at least to the 1950s, this fundamental question has never been answered. We recount key points of the history of artificial intelligence, which offer perspective on the question, and give arguments toward the thesis that "intelligence" has an asymptotic upper limit and that the current AI trend, as measured by benchmarks, is approaching this limit. Objections to the thesis are addressed and policy implications are described.

Orthopedic surgery can trigger anxiety that negatively impacts patient experience and recovery. This pilot study investigated if a compassionate interaction combined with standardized mind-body techniques could reduce patient anxiety levels during the initial postoperative phase for patients undergoing a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Participants were 36 postsurgical hospital inpatients guided through a 10-minute mind-body breathing and visualization intervention on post-op day zero (POD 0) and on post-op day one (POD 1). Quantitative data included before and after Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A) reports, heart rate values, and pulse oximetry readings. Significant decreases in VAS-A and heart rate values as well as increases in pulse oximetry values were demonstrated on both POD 0 and POD 1. These results indicate that a brief mind-body intervention can reduce reported anxiety levels and induce physiologic benefits for hospitalized patients post-TKA and suggest the possibility that such interventions could reduce anxiety in a broader patient population.