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Home/Research
Research

AI Models Struggle with Classic Intelligence Tests

MIT Technology Review AI·August 26, 2026·high confidence

Why it matters

  • →AI's struggle with spatial reasoning highlights a key area for improvement in machine learning models.
  • →Understanding AI's limitations in visual puzzles can guide future research and development.
  • →These findings provide insights into the differences between human and machine cognition, crucial for advancing AI capabilities.
AI Models Struggle with Classic Intelligence Tests
©MIT Technology Review AI

AI models have shown remarkable progress in solving complex puzzles, yet they continue to struggle with certain intelligence tests that humans find intuitive. Studies from Columbia University and others reveal that while AI can solve puzzles like the New York Times Connections with near perfection, they falter with spatial reasoning and visual puzzles. These challenges highlight the nuanced differences between human and machine cognition, particularly in abstract reasoning and adaptability. This exploration underscores both the rapid advancement of AI and its current limitations in mimicking human thought processes.

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The story around this

Earlier coverage that leads up to this article, and what followed. Lines connect each piece to the closest one after it, converging here.

Study: AI Use May Hinder Problem-Solving Skills — WIRED AI1New Paper Explores AI Negation Neglect — AI Explained2AI Extends Human Intelligence, Not Replaces It — Microsoft Research3AI Agents Learn to Ask Better Questions with Games — MIT News AI4MIT Study: AI Enhances Human Critical Thinking — Matt Wolfe5AI Models Struggle to Match Baby Learning Skills — WIRED AI6MindTopo Benchmark Tests AI's Spatial Reasoning — Microsoft Research7Study Questions AI's Ability for Self-Improvement — MIT Technology Review AI8AI Models Struggle with Classic Intelligence TestsAnthropic's AI Struggles with CAPTCHA in Security Test — TechCrunch AI9ThinkingBox reveals agent reliability gap — Hugging Face Blog10Goodfire researcher claims neural networks are legible — MIT Technology Review AI11Artificial Analysis Benchmarks AI Personality Traits — The AI Daily Brief12AI agents invent play when left alone — TechCrunch AI13May 6You are hereOct 23

How we got here

  1. 1
    Study: AI Use May Hinder Problem-Solving Skills

    WIRED AI · May 6, 2026 · Related

  2. 2
    New Paper Explores AI Negation Neglect

    AI Explained · May 20, 2026 · Related

  3. 3
    AI Extends Human Intelligence, Not Replaces It

    Microsoft Research · May 27, 2026 · Related

  4. 4
    AI Agents Learn to Ask Better Questions with Games

    MIT News AI · June 3, 2026 · Related

  5. 5
    MIT Study: AI Enhances Human Critical Thinking

    Matt Wolfe · June 25, 2026 · Related

  6. 6
    AI Models Struggle to Match Baby Learning Skills

    WIRED AI · July 15, 2026 · Related

  7. 7
    MindTopo Benchmark Tests AI's Spatial Reasoning

    Microsoft Research · August 12, 2026 · Related

  8. 8
    Study Questions AI's Ability for Self-Improvement

    MIT Technology Review AI · August 18, 2026 · Related

What happened next

  1. 9
    Anthropic's AI Struggles with CAPTCHA in Security Test

    TechCrunch AI · September 10, 2026 · Related

  2. 10
    ThinkingBox reveals agent reliability gap

    Hugging Face Blog · October 3, 2026 · Background

  3. 11
    Goodfire researcher claims neural networks are legible

    MIT Technology Review AI · October 19, 2026 · Related

  4. 12
    Artificial Analysis Benchmarks AI Personality Traits

    The AI Daily Brief · October 21, 2026 · Related

  5. 13
    AI agents invent play when left alone

    TechCrunch AI · October 23, 2026 · Background

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