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small_modellast Monday at 2:19 PM7 repliesview on HN

Given parrots can talk, there must be a neuron count that activates language (assuming anatomy allows it), similar to LLM parameter count.


Replies

jayerslast Monday at 2:25 PM

That seems like an unfounded inference. Plenty of animals have more neurons than humans but lesser cognitive and language abilities. Language has lot to do with structure of the brain in addition to neuron count.

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lukanlast Monday at 2:26 PM

Where do you get the conclusion from, that there is a "must"? There can be lot's of neurons ... but dedicated to other purposes.

Philip-J-Frylast Monday at 2:34 PM

Parrots can't "talk". They just mimick noises they've heard before

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tokailast Monday at 2:32 PM

Lots of birds can talk, not only the very clever ones like parrots and covids. Its mimicry and that generally doesn't seem to take many neurons.

dborehamlast Monday at 2:26 PM

Plausible, and likely similar.

DetroitThrowlast Monday at 2:35 PM

Given parrots eat their own poop (https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/questions/parrots-eating-poop/), there must be a neuron count/density that activates self-poop eating (assuming anatomy allows it), similar to LLM parameter count.

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fredgrottlast Monday at 2:34 PM

mimicking is not talking....

Its part of their calling social members wiring....