words used and search expertise/technique that the users utilizes. Those who are search savvy and can conduct effective searches that obtain quality results will most likely increase the quality of the information they receive and this may have an effect on their intelligence—those that are unable to search effectively do not have the same level of access to quality/applicable information. I also believe that the integration for search into social media (which is something that may be unavoidable) has the potential to ‘push’ information to users that are not as search ‘savvy’ and could increase intelligence in this group but as things are I believe that the both are true and an increase, or decrease in intelligence is dependent on the user’s ability to search effectively.” —Stephan Adelson, president of Adelson Consulting Services and founder of Internet Interventions, a company that promotes health and patient support

“As a species, we’ve been on an arc of ever-increasing access to information since we shared the secret of fire…and it’s assured that what we define as intelligence will continue to change. Google helps organize the vast amount of information that we can use. What it can’t replace is experience. If intelligence is determined by our ability to satiate curiosity and apply the fruit of research, Google will make us smarter. What it cannot do, however, is make us wise or guide us through the emotional ramifications of our decisions.” —Chad Davis, director of production and project development at the Center for Innovative Media at George Washington University

“There’s no doubt that the Internet is an extension of human intelligence, both individual and collective. But the extent to which it is able to augment intelligence depends on how much people are able to make it conform to their needs. Being able to look up who starred in the second season of ‘The Tracey Ullman Show’ on Wikipedia is the lowest form of intelligence augmentation; being able to build social networks and interactive software that helps you answer specific questions or enrich your intellectual life is much more powerful. This will matter even more as the Internet becomes more pervasive. Already my iPhone functions as the external, silicon lobe of my brain. For it to help me become even