Collective intelligence (I)// is group I=sum(Is) or max(Is)?
If individual intelligence in a group is relatively equal, is the group intelligence just equal to overage individual intelligence?
Swarm Intelligence (SI) is a natural phenomenon that enables biological groups to amplify their combined intellect by forming real-time systems. Artificial Swarm Intelligence (or Swarm AI) is a technology that enables networked human groups to amplify their combined intelligence by forming similar systems. In the past, swarm-based methods were constrained to narrowly defined tasks like probabilistic forecasting and multiple-choice decision making. A new technology called Conversational Swarm Intelligence (CSI) was developed in 2023 that amplifies the decision-making accuracy of networked human groups through natural conversational deliberations. The current study evaluated the ability of real-time groups using a CSI platform to take a common IQ test known as Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM). First, a baseline group of participants took the Raven’s IQ test by traditional survey. This group averaged 45.6% correct. Then, groups of approximately 35 individuals answered IQ test questions together using a CSI platform called Thinkscape. These groups averaged 80.5% correct. This places the CSI groups in the 97th percentile of IQ test-takers and corresponds to an effective IQ increase of 28 points (p<0.001). This is an encouraging result and suggests that CSI is a powerful method for enabling conversational collective intelligence in large, networked groups. In addition, because CSI is scalable across groups of potentially any size, this technology may provide a viable pathway to building a Collective Superintelligence.
Here is a summary of the key points from the paper:
- Swarm intelligence is the ability of biological groups like birds, bees, and fish to amplify their collective intelligence by forming real-time systems.
- Artificial swarm intelligence (Swarm AI) enables networked human groups to form similar systems to amplify their collective intelligence on tasks like forecasting and decision-making.
- A new technology called conversational swarm intelligence (CSI) uses large language models (LLMs) to enable large groups to have thoughtful, productive conversations in real-time that amplify collective intelligence.
- A study tested groups of 35 people using a CSI platform called Thinkscape on Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM) IQ test questions.
- Groups using Thinkscape averaged 80.5% correct, corresponding to an effective IQ increase of 28 points compared to individual test-takers.
- The CSI group IQ of 128 placed them in the 97th percentile, with no individual scoring that high.
- CSI significantly outperformed both the average individual and a statistical “wisdom of crowds” method.
- CSI provides additional insights into how the group converged on answers through real-time tracking of deliberations.
- The results suggest CSI amplifies collective intelligence and could provide a pathway to collective superintelligence as groups scale larger.
IQ tests are considered impractical and unsuitable as a foundation for high-quality research. How does group intelligence address real-world problems and challenges? This is an open-ended question, as it heavily depends on various factors.
It’s built using Swarm AI, a technology inspired by the dynamics of fish schools, bird flocks, and bee swarms. These natural systems collaborate so efficiently they form “super-organisms” that are significantly smarter and more effective than the individual members. With Thinkscape, human groups achieve similar benefits.
We don’t know how biological intelligence actually works, just hypotheses.
So we invented Conversational Swarm Intelligence (CSI). It’s a new form of Swarm AI that splits large populations into small networked subgroups, each sized for thoughtful conversation, and uses AI Agents to propagate dialog across the full population in real-time. This combines the deliberative benefits of small-scale discourse with the collective intelligence benefits of large groups.
Yes, new methods and tools can increase the efficiency of individual and group intelligence.
Collective intelligence augmented by modern AI-tech
