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Ai, a chimpanzee regarded as a “genius” for her exceptional abilities, passed away at age 49, according to Japanese scientists. She was able to recognize over 100 Chinese characters and the English alphabet, making significant contributions to research on perception, learning, and memory that shed light on primate intelligence, stated the Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior at Kyoto University.
She died Friday due to multiple organ failures and age-related health issues. Besides her knack for Chinese characters and the alphabet, Ai could identify Arabic numerals from zero through nine and distinguish 11 different colors, according to primatologist Tetsuro Matsuzawa in 2014.
In one experiment, Ai was shown a computer screen featuring the Chinese character for pink alongside a pink square and an alternative purple square. She correctly selected the pink square. When presented with an apple, she was able to arrange shapes—a rectangle, a circle, and a dot—to recreate a “virtual apple.”
Her remarkable skills garnered her recognition in numerous academic publications, including studies in the journal Nature, as well as appearances in media programs, where she was dubbed “the genius” by the public.
Ai arrived at Kyoto University in 1977 from West Africa, and in 2000, she gave birth to a son named Ayumu. His impressive skills drew attention to research on how knowledge is transferred from parent to offspring. Her research helped establish a framework for understanding the chimpanzee mind, providing a foundation for exploring human cognitive evolution.
“Ai was highly curious and actively engaged in these studies, revealing various aspects of chimpanzee cognition for the first time,” the center noted.
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