A group can take various forms. This identification can be straightforward, such as a construction crew or restaurant employees. However, some groups may be less apparent, like pedestrians on a sidewalk. Even though they might not seem like a group at first, their synchronized, mostly unconscious actions to avoid collisions briefly transform them into a sort of supermind.

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University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

- A Group
- Of Individuals
- Acting Together
- In Ways that Seem Intelligent

Elements of a Supermind

Malone, Thomas W. 2018. Superminds: The Surprising Power of People and Computers Thinking Together. Little, Brown Spark.

https://cci.mit.edu/superminds-by-thomas-w-malone/

Superminds: The Surprising Power of People and Computers Thinking Together

"Group" in the Definition of Superminds

In the context of superminds, the term "individuals" encompasses a broad range, varying in size and composition. These individuals may include not only minds but also bodies and other controlled resources. For instance, one can consider a neighborhood Starbucks as a supermind, comprising individual employees, tables, chairs, coffeemakers, and coffee beans. Alternatively, the entire coffee shop itself can be seen as an individual within a larger supermind, such as the market encompassing all coffee vendors in the neighborhood. On a more granular level, a single Starbucks barista can also be viewed as a kind of supermind, where the individual parts extend to include all the neurons within the barista's brain. This definition e

"Individuals" in the Definition of Superminds

Not all groups of individuals qualify as superminds. A group becomes a supermind when its members are actively engaged in some form of action, but it's not enough for them to act independently; their actions must be interconnected. For instance, a collection of four empty coffee cups simply lying on the ground wouldn't be considered a supermind. On the other hand, two unrelated individuals making coffee separately in different cities on the same morning wouldn't qualify either. To be classified as a supermind, individuals must be engaged in coordinated actions. It's important to note that these individuals within a supermind don't necessarily have to cooperate or share the same objectives. For example, InnoCentive, a company that hosts online contests for scientists and technologists to compete in solving complex problems, demonstrates that even when participants compete rather than cooperate, their actions are considered connected because they are all working on the same problem.

"Acting Together" in the Definition of Superminds

To qualify as a supermind, a group of interconnected individuals must not only engage in coordinated actions but also exhibit a perception of intelligence. This perception is essential, as superminds, much like beauty, are subjective and depend on the observer's viewpoint. The elements that constitute a supermind, including intelligence, individuals, groups, actions, and connections, require identification by an observer. Different observers may analyze the same situation differently, which is particularly relevant when evaluating intelligence, as it involves subjective judgments based on the entity's goals. Assessing a group's intelligence often involves considering overarching goals important to the observer, even if individual group members do not share those goals. Even if a group's attempts at intelligent actions do not succeed, it can still be considered a supermind if observers perceive its efforts to be aimed at achieving intelligence-related objectives.

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