Popular culture often uses apes as a mirror for human intellect, sometimes with thrilling or terrifying overtones. Beyond the fiction, researchers have tested memory and problem-solving in primates, producing findings that spark wide interest. Ayumu, a chimpanzee raised at Kyoto University in Japan, has become one of the most-discussed examples of cognitive skill. In memory tasks designed to probe short-term recall, Ayumu achieved performances that challenged familiar expectations about what humans can do under similar conditions, a point noted by experts in comparative cognition (Matsuzawa, 2009).
In a digit-sequence setup, Ayumu was shown a series of numbers on a screen for a fraction of a second and then asked to reproduce the order by touching the digits in the correct sequence. He demonstrated the ability to track both the position and the order of the digits with remarkable speed, often completing the task far faster than many untrained humans. The design of these experiments ensures a fair comparison by adjusting exposure times and response steps, allowing Ayumu to reveal the upper range of chimpanzee working memory in the visual-spatial domain (Matsuzawa, 2009).
Thechimp’s training environment at Kyoto University involved daily sessions and consistent reinforcement, with treats granted when a sequence was recalled accurately. This enrichment and repetition likely contribute to Ayumu’s steady improvement, illustrating how motivation and structure can unlock cognitive potential. While researchers caution against overinterpreting any single talent as a direct proxy for human intelligence, the results underscore genuine perceptual and memory capabilities in great apes (Matsuzawa, 2010).
Ayumu is not the only primate to capture public imagination through technology. Last year, an American charity introduced iPads to a group of orangutans, and the apes quickly learned to interact with the devices—watching videos and manipulating the painting app. The events served as a vivid reminder that tablet-like interfaces can be meaningful tools for assessing learning, problem-solving, and even creative expression in nonhuman primates. The findings from these sessions contribute to a broader conversation about cognitive flexibility across diverse species (Lonsdorf et al., 2021).
Perhaps the lighthearted takeaway is that if apes receive enough opportunities to explore, they may use those tools in surprising ways. The playful aspect of these studies should not obscure their seriousness: they offer a window into how primates learn from feedback, adapt to new technologies, and demonstrate sophisticated patterns of attention and memory. The juxtaposition of Ayumu’s digit-memory feats with orangutans tapping tablets invites us to rethink common assumptions about the limits of animal minds and the role enrichment plays in cognitive development (Matsuzawa, 2010).