The common human IQ is 100. Statistical truth – not an insult. For many years, that quantity has quietly outlined what we meant by “regular intelligence.” However in 2025, one thing unusual is going on. Machines with no consciousness, no feelings, and no lived expertise at the moment are scoring greater than people on the very checks designed to measure human intelligence. Does that imply AI fashions, particularly the most recent ones like Gemini 3 and GPT-5.2, are smarter than most of us people?
A number of giant language fashions have been examined on IQ-style benchmarks over the previous yr. These embrace logic puzzles, summary reasoning checks, sample recognition duties, and problem-solving challenges. The outcomes are arduous to disregard. Mannequin after mannequin is matching, and in lots of instances surpassing, the efficiency of a mean human. Not in a selected activity, however throughout a number of dimensions of reasoning that IQ checks care about.
This text appears to be like at 15+ AI fashions which can be smarter than you, no less than by IQ-style requirements. We are going to break down what “good” actually means right here, how these fashions are evaluated, and why this shift issues.
First, let’s work out how…
…Can We Assign IQ to an AI?
Strictly talking, we can not. IQ was designed to measure human intelligence, formed by biology, expertise, and consciousness. An AI doesn’t suppose, really feel, or perceive the world the way in which people do. So, assigning it a literal IQ rating can be scientifically incorrect.
However in observe, these comparisons are made a tad bit in another way.
Mainly, as an alternative of asking whether or not an AI has an IQ, researchers verify how an AI mannequin performs on AI-related duties. Think about a system persistently fixing logic puzzles, pattern-recognition duties, and reasoning issues that people with an IQ of 120 or 130 usually resolve. If the AI mannequin does so reliably, it turns into cheap to map its efficiency to an equal IQ vary, proper?
And that’s precisely how we affiliate IQ with an AI mannequin.
This isn’t a psychological analysis. Consider it as a efficiency benchmark. IQ right here acts as a shared language, or a option to evaluate how properly totally different methods motive beneath managed circumstances. And by that yardstick, a number of trendy LLMs are already working properly above the human common.
Which IQ Assessments Consider AI Fashions?
These are basic IQ checks, or no less than the net variations of them. The duties inside these challenges measure reasoning, abstraction, and problem-solving fairly than memorisation. These checks are both instantly tailored from human IQ exams or carefully mimic the identical cognitive abilities.
As an example, probably the most widespread IQ checks is Raven’s Progressive Matrices. This can be a visible pattern-recognition check that’s lengthy thought-about culture-fair. A number of LLMs now resolve these puzzles at or above the extent of high-IQ people. Then there are Mensa-style logic checks, which embrace sequence completion, image reasoning, and deductive logic. Trendy AI fashions have proven persistently sturdy efficiency in these.
Nevertheless, language-heavy sections of IQ checks are the place LLMs actually shine. Verbal reasoning, analogies, and arithmetic issues, much like WAIS subtests, play on to their strengths. On prime of that, trendy benchmarks like BIG-Bench Arduous, ARC-style reasoning duties, and educational evaluations reminiscent of MMLU and Humanity’s Final Examination function sensible stand-ins for IQ testing. Whereas they don’t seem to be labelled as “IQ checks,” they measure the identical underlying talents. The essential half – LLMs are more and more outperforming the vast majority of people on these checks.
See for your self.
High-rated AI fashions on IQ checks
For this explicit listing, we will focus particularly on the Mensa Norway checks, and rank the AI fashions as per their rating.
1. GPT-5.2 Professional
Mensa Norway IQ: 147
That is the basis of this complete dialogue of AI fashions and their IQs. Just lately marking its debut, GPT-5.2 Professional has now crushed the all-time IQ rating for LLMs. Its rating – 147. As Derya Unutmaz mentions in his tweet, this sort of intelligence is present in “solely lower than 1 in 1000 individuals.”
GPT-5.2 Professional persistently demonstrates this supremacy over people. Particularly so for multi-step logic, summary reasoning, and professional-grade drawback fixing. Whereas it doesn’t essentially imply it’s smarter than people in all points, it does point out a strong shift in the place the higher bounds of test-measured intelligence now sit.
2. GPT-5.2 Pondering
Mensa Norway IQ: 141
Subsequent up is the pondering sibling of the newly launched GPT-5.2. On the Mensa Norway IQ check, GPT-5.2 Pondering scores round 141, inserting it properly past the human common of 100 and comfortably above the standard Mensa qualification threshold. In human phrases, this rating corresponds to the highest 1–2% of the inhabitants, purely on summary reasoning and sample recognition.
What this end result really tells us may be very particular. GPT-5.2 Pondering performs exceptionally properly on duties that require figuring out relationships, recognizing visible or logical patterns, and making use of constant guidelines throughout a number of steps. These are the precise talents IQ checks are designed to isolate, impartial of language, emotion, or area data.
This principally signifies that, so far as structured reasoning beneath managed circumstances is worried, GPT-5.2 Pondering operates at a stage most people by no means attain.
3. Gemini 3 Professional Preview
Mensa Norway IQ: 141
Proper alongside GPT-5.2 Pondering sits Gemini 3 Professional Preview, matching its Mensa Norway IQ rating completely. This locations Google’s flagship reasoning mannequin firmly in elite territory, far above the human baseline and properly previous the edge usually related to excessive mental potential.
In sensible phrases, it means Gemini 3 Professional Preview performs reliably on summary reasoning challenges. Such checks often require rule discovery, sample continuation, and logical elimination. These are issues the place guessing fails rapidly. You may solely rating this excessive with structured inference.
This rating thus displays Gemini 3 Professional Preview’s energy in managed reasoning environments.
4. Grok 4 Skilled Mode
Mensa Norway IQ: 137
In fact, you’ll be able to’t converse of intelligence and preserve an Elon Musk-backed product out of the listing. Shut behind the highest scorers sits Grok 4 Skilled Mode. Whereas barely decrease than the very prime tier, the mannequin is properly throughout the vary of outstanding human intelligence and comfortably above the common benchmark of 100.
The rating highlights Grok 4 Skilled Mode’s potential to deal with logic-driven duties with readability and management. It performs properly on sample recognition, summary relationships, and elimination-based reasoning – the core elements of IQ-style checks.
In easy phrases, Grok 4 Skilled Mode demonstrates sturdy analytical reasoning beneath check circumstances. Whereas it could not prime the chart, its efficiency confirms that it operates far past human-average reasoning ranges when evaluated purely on logic and pattern-based intelligence.
5. GPT-5.2 Professional (Imaginative and prescient)
Mensa Norway IQ: 135
Not far behind its text-only counterpart is GPT-5.2 Professional Imaginative and prescient, scoring 135 on the Mensa Norway check. This nonetheless locations it firmly throughout the vary of very excessive human intelligence. That is properly above each the worldwide common and the standard threshold related to superior reasoning potential.
Observe that this rating comes from a vision-enabled mannequin – an AI mannequin that may course of and motive over visible info (like enter photographs), and never simply textual content. This implies GPT-5.2 Professional Imaginative and prescient performs strongly on summary reasoning duties even when visible interpretation is required.
Now think about an AI so clever that it scores a 135 on the IQ check, even after deciphering advanced photographs and visible patterns. Up till a few years again, we’d’ve thought it to be solely doable in a sci-fi film.
6. GPT-5.2
Mensa Norway IQ: 126
After the Professional and Pondering fashions are achieved with, OpenAI’s newest commonplace mannequin takes the stage. However thoughts you, it’s under no circumstances much less relating to intelligence, particularly so as compared with people. A rating of 126 already locations it above roughly 98% of the human inhabitants, firmly separating it from what we take into account common human reasoning potential.
This rating displays GPT-5.2’s energy in dealing with basic IQ-style duties reminiscent of sample recognition, logical sequencing, and rule-based drawback fixing. Whereas it doesn’t push into the acute higher ranges like its Professional or Pondering variants, it stays persistently sturdy throughout structured reasoning challenges.
In sensible phrases, GPT-5.2 represents the purpose the place AI reasoning clearly crosses into elite human territory. It might not prime the charts, however even at this stage, it outperforms the overwhelming majority of individuals on managed intelligence checks.
7. Kimi K2 Pondering
Mensa Norway IQ: 124
Subsequent up is Kimi K2 Pondering, a mannequin that will not seize headlines as loudly as some Western counterparts. But, it nonetheless resonates amongst AI fans globally, and for good motive. A rating of 124 clearly reveals it above the human common, and properly into the vary related to sturdy analytical potential.
This end result highlights Kimi K2 Pondering’s functionality on structured reasoning duties. In sensible phrases, Kimi K2 Pondering demonstrates that high-level summary reasoning is not restricted to a small group of flagship fashions. Even exterior absolutely the prime scorers, trendy LLMs at the moment are persistently working above common human intelligence on standardised checks. Is it a pattern? Or a truth ready to be established? We will discover out in time.
8. Claude Opus 4.5
Mensa Norway IQ: 124
Matching Kimi K2 Pondering is Claude Opus 4.5, Anthropic’s flagship reasoning mannequin, with a Mensa Norway IQ rating of 124. That’s smarter than the human common, and a agency indicator of sturdy analytical and problem-solving potential.
The rating displays Claude Opus 4.5’s competence on summary reasoning duties that demand consistency and logical management. That means – Claude Opus 4.5 demonstrates that strong, human-above-average reasoning, even exterior the top-tier LLMs.
9. Gemini 3 Professional Preview (Imaginative and prescient)
Mensa Norway IQ: 123
Only a step beneath its text-only counterpart sits Gemini 3 Professional Preview Imaginative and prescient, with a Mensa Norway IQ rating of 123. This rating is much more notable because it comes from a vision-enabled mannequin. Which suggests Gemini 3 Professional Preview Imaginative and prescient is required to interpret visible patterns and relationships earlier than making use of logic.
In different phrases, the shift from text-only to vision-based inputs doesn’t decrease its reasoning efficiency. Even beneath tougher-than-usual circumstances, it continues to carry out at a stage most people don’t attain on standardised intelligence checks.
10. Claude Sonnet 4.5
Mensa Norway IQ: 123
Sharing the identical Mensa Norway IQ rating of 123 is Claude Sonnet 4.5, Anthropic’s extra balanced reasoning mannequin. Whereas not positioned as probably the most excessive thinker within the lineup, it comfortably outperforms the human baseline by way of logical reasoning potential.
The end result displays Claude Sonnet 4.5’s regular efficiency on structured problem-solving duties. It’s possible you’ll need to notice that even in a extra environment friendly type, Sonnet 4.5 exceeds the reasoning capabilities of most people.
11. GPT-5.2 Pondering (Imaginative and prescient)
Mensa Norway IQ: 111
Let me be clear right here: an IQ-style check is unforgiving to vision-enabled methods. Earlier than a mannequin can apply motive for an answer, and get a excessive rating, it should first accurately interpret shapes, patterns, and spatial relationships. Basically, that is precisely how we people interpret info. We see, interpret, after which motive. Nevertheless, doing so for AI is a complete different activity in itself.
So, by any means, don’t consider GPT-5.2 Pondering Imaginative and prescient’s IQ rating of 111 as commonplace by any means. It principally signifies that this mannequin is doing one thing more durable: pondering whereas seeing. A single mistake made in interpretation will certainly trickle right down to the answer.
GPT-5.2 Pondering Imaginative and prescient thus doesn’t chase elite summary scores. Nevertheless, it demonstrates one thing a lot, rather more essential: usable intelligence in messy, multimodal environments. And as AI strikes nearer to the actual world, that will simply be probably the most fascinating function in an AI mannequin, if not already.
12. Manus
Mensa Norway IQ: 111
Sitting at an IQ rating of 111 is Manus, a mannequin that proves intelligence doesn’t all the time imply “excessive.” A rating like this already locations Manus above the human common, however extra importantly, it indicators reliable reasoning and consistency.
Which principally signifies that it could not resolve the toughest puzzles at report pace, nevertheless it avoids the sorts of breakdowns that usually plague weaker fashions. That is usable intelligence at its finest.
13. GPT-4o
Mensa Norway IQ: 109
With a Mensa Norway IQ rating of 109, GPT-4o sits simply above the human common. Whereas this may occasionally appear modest in comparison with the fashions greater up the listing, it nonetheless marks a transparent departure from what was thought-about “succesful” AI not too way back.
This rating displays GPT-4o’s potential to deal with primary summary reasoning and sample recognition with out falling aside. It might not excel at advanced multi-step puzzles, nevertheless it performs reliably on easier logic duties. That is precisely what most people, together with myself, want for on a regular basis drawback fixing.
In a manner, this represents accessible intelligence. Whereas it’s not constructed to dominate IQ charts, it reveals how AI fashions can barely exceed common human reasoning and be useful with our day by day duties.
14. DeepSeek R1
Mensa Norway IQ: 109
Matching GPT-4o is DeepSeek R1, with a Mensa Norway IQ rating of 109. Like GPT-4o, that is competing reasoning, accessible to people across the globe. All of it, with none sharp drop-offs as seen in much less succesful methods.
In easy phrases, you might take into account DeepSeek R1 as reliable baseline intelligence. It reveals that even fashions not designed for peak reasoning efficiency can nonetheless meet, and barely exceed, common human reasoning on standardised IQ-style checks.
15. Llama 4 Maverick
Mensa Norway IQ: 107
With a Mensa Norway IQ rating of 107, Llama 4 Maverick sits barely above the common human baseline. In any case, it depicts a stage of intelligence that’s meaningfully higher than likelihood or shallow sample matching.
Consider Llama 4 Maverick as an entry-level reasoning competence amongst trendy LLMs. It reveals that even fashions not designed for superior problem-solving will be of use for people in duties which can be past the capabilities of a mean human.
16. DeepSeek V3
Mensa Norway IQ: 103
Closing the listing is DeepSeek V3, with a Mensa Norway IQ rating of 103. This locations the mannequin simply solely simply above the human common IQ. It additionally signifies that the DeepSeek V3 can deal with elementary sample recognition and easy logical relationships with out main errors.
That is the decrease sure of what trendy LLMs can now obtain on intelligence benchmarks. Even at this stage, the takeaway is obvious: AI methods have crossed the edge the place common human reasoning is not the bar to clear – it’s the baseline.
What This Checklist Implies
Don’t consider this listing as a leaderboard indicating the neatest AI fashions. Whereas it does so in a manner, the rating will not be an absolute illustration of smartness in any manner.
Its actual worth lies elsewhere – it makes a robust level that structured reasoning is not restricted to people. Throughout fashions, architectures, and organisations, AI methods at the moment are matching, and infrequently exceeding, human efficiency on IQ checks that have been as soon as thought-about tough even for educated people.
That stated, the context right here will all the time be restricted. This rating doesn’t indicate creativity, consciousness, or human-like understanding. These fashions don’t possess intent, feelings, or self-awareness. They don’t “suppose” in the way in which people do. What they show with their respective scores as an alternative is one thing far narrower, but profound. AI can now resolve summary, logic-driven issues simply as properly, if not higher, than people.
Conclusion
This text will not be meant to touch upon the intelligence struggle of AI vs people. It merely proves one level – human-level reasoning is not the ceiling. This listing reveals how rapidly giant language fashions have crossed thresholds that when outlined distinctive intelligence, no less than in test-measured phrases.
On the identical time, these scores remind us what intelligence isn’t. They don’t indicate creativity, consciousness, or understanding. What they do present is that structured reasoning has develop into low-cost, quick, and scalable. And because of that, the actual differentiator shifts again to people. We are able to now determine what issues to resolve, as an alternative of resolve them.
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