Collective Intelligence: When to Ask A Group of People Instead of Google Groups are smart. Really smart. For over 100 years, research into Collective Intelligence has shown that when you combine the knowledge and opinions of large groups, the results are far more accurate and insightful than from any single participant. Simply put – “Many minds are better than one…” In the past, tapping Collective Intelligence was slow and dull, using polls and surveys to find the statistical mean. But now, a new technology called “Artificial Swarm Intelligence” allows online groups to think together in real-time by forming a unified system that can answer questions, make predictions, reach decisions, even crack jokes… Collective Intelligence is not simply group intelligence but is a process that combines progress and ideas, which would be tenuous otherwise. It can help you overcome the three main setbacks when assembling research or finding solutions to difficult problems- first is the lack of control and communication when gathering information initially, second is the disparity between two or more workers when assessing the same topic, and third is the absence of close scrutiny when drawing a conclusion. Collective intelligence is what differentiates a simple discussion among friends or colleagues from professional networking centered on a single objective that amasses knowledge from various people. It is information that expands from multiple minds when they exist together instead of working on an individual level. Forming a consensus, making collective decisions, combining ideas from independent resources, and encouraging people through healthy competition are all components of collective intelligence.