causal
Childhood Is Evolution's Simulated Annealing
For solving high-dimensional problems with many possible solutions, computer science shows the best strategy is to start with a wide, hot, random search and gradually cool into a focused, low-temperature search (simulated annealing); childhood is evolution's way of implementing this, beginning with noisy bouncy exploration before cooling into focused adult exploitation, because the two strategies cannot be done simultaneously and trade off against each other.
causalpending
Speaker
Alison GopnikEvidence Quote
“what I think is that childhood is essentially evolution's way of doing simulated annealing”
Created: 6/13/2026, 12:24:35 AM
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