[mr_toad]

That’s because humans have to decode written or verbal instructions, process them in a network that actually understands the concepts behind counting, numbers etc, and then translate the results into written or verbal language.

Wiring up some neurons to perform binary arithmetic could be much more efficient. But there was never an evolutionary reason to do so.

[ben_w]

Well, yes — I’d call that a ‘fundamental limitation to the architecture of the human brain that prevents "fast math"’.

[mr_toad]

A fundamental limitation of the human brain, but not necessarily a fundamental limitation of organic neural networks.