Brute Force Computation and Intelligence

Abstract: Energy use and the necessary data are a good metric for comparing natural and artificial performance. How much energy and how much data processed for achieving a well-defined goal are quantifiable. Artificial entities could justifiably be defined as intelligent if, in executing a task, energy and data usage would be as much or less than those of a living entity (not only human) performing the same task. The qualifier intelligent, pertaining to performance, stands in contrast to brute force methods achieving equal performance, but at higher cost.