Ask HN: What does it mean if you pick up patterns fast?

Human brains seem to find patterns and assign categories automatically. We all have this ability.

Unless a person recognizes patterns much faster than most other people, or does it more accurately than most people, it doesn’t mean anything special. Young children “pick up” patterns quickly but not necessarily accurately.

“Fast” doesn’t give any useful information. Compared to what?

The ability to rapidly pick up patterns and then reuse them in some productive way strongly correlates with intelligence, as is defined as being measured by modern IQ tests at least (though this is only one form of intelligence).