A recent study shows that when it comes to collecting and processing data, ants outperform Google.
A recent study shows that when it comes to collecting and processing data, ants outperform Google.
The finding came from observing colonies while they searched for and gathered food.
It turns out that what looks like a random scattering of ants is actually a carefully orchestrated three-part mission that the researchers have dubbed ‘hunting, homing, and path building.’
First, older and more experienced ones head out to find viable food sources.
Once they’ve located one, they head back to home base.
On their successful return journey, they leave behind trails of pheromones.
Younger and more physically fit ants then calculate and embark upon the shortest path, grab the goodies, and return, while leaving yet more pheromones reinforcing the best pathway.
Their process has been likened to how Internet search engines like Google work.
They send webcrawlers out to comb for data and once it’s been located, algorithms identify which information is most likely relevant to the search.
The difference, according to one of the study co-author’s, is that ants just do it better.
He said, “That transition between chaos and order is an important mechanism and…the learning strategy involved…is more accurate and complex than a Google search. These insects are, without doubt, more efficient than Google in processing information about their surroundings.”
