Meditations on COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE Pierre Lvy Collective intelligence

Meditations on COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE Pierre Lévy

Collective intelligence the new source of empowerment z Tools : digital communication, sharing of memory, perception and imagination. z Process : collective learning and creativity, exchange of knowledge, competitive cooperation and cooperative competition in the production of knowledge z The Art of multiplying intelligence z Games where the winners enhance and use the available intelligence and cooperate more efficiently z Ground : living unity and diversity of the noosphere: the world of language interconnected in cyberspace

Society = Mind Community = Network Emotions = Links Evolution du of Evolution themonde Worlddes of Ideas idées Technology = Structure Individuals = Nodes

Collective intelligence = learning power Religion, ethics, law, institutions, psychology, relational thinking Emotionnal intelligence Conceptual intelligence π π meaning Mathematics, philosophy, communication, art, litterature, semiotics, abstract thinking Practical intelligence Energy, tools, architecture, agriculture, industry, engineering, practical thinking Collective intelligence = harmony between the three dimensions of human learning

creation Collective creation Intelligence Collective intelligence dynamics

Collective intelligence dialectic • Virtuality • Dialectic of problems and learning • Opening of meaning (existential depth) Questions Reciprocal implication Stories and descriptions • Reproduction, mutation, transmission • Dialectic of memory and interprétation • creation of meaning (evolutive time ) Dialogues • Otherness, meeting of the other • Network of multilogic communication • Circulation and translation of meaning (Space of differing universes)

Evolution of language life : improvements of collective memory Cyberspace Printing Press Alphabet Writing Orality Constitution of the noosphere : ubiquity and interconnection of cultural signs in cyberspace. Writing gains abilities for autonomous action (software and robots) Technical self-reproduction of the alphabet and images Writing becomes digital and universal Autonomous technical memory of language myths, rites, oral transmission, memory inscribed in matter

Evolution of language life : forms in progress Cyberspace Printing Press Alphabet Writing Orality Deliberate collective intelligence, omnivision, economy of knowledge and ideas, global cyberdemocracy, culture of diversity, conscious piloting of biospere’s evolution Experimental science, mass industry, capitalism, global market, human rights, modern democracies Monotheism, money, commerce, citizenship, universal science Agriculture, livestock farming , city, state, law, systematic knowledge, school Technique, art, images, music, religion, complex social rules

Information economy Science Religion World wide Web Library Bible Cyberspace Printing press Alphabet

Orality z. Economy : hunting, gathering Economy z. Politics : tribe Politics z. Religion : animism, chamanism Religion z. Knowledge : myths, rituals, know-how Knowledge z. Space : centered cosmos Space z. Time : cyclic Time

Writing z. Economy : agriculture Economy z. Politics : State, law, justice Politics z. Religions : polytheist with priests Religions z. Knowledge : systematic Knowledge z. Space : territory Space z. Time : History Time z. Power : great civilisations of ideographic Power writing : Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Pre-Columbian cultures, etc.

The Alphabet z. Economy : commerce, money Economy z. Politics : city, democracy Politics z. Religion : monotheism, buddhism Religion z. Knowledge : sciences & philosophies with Knowledge universal scope z. Space : universal but abstract Space z. Time : consciousness of history Time z. Power : alphabetical empires (Alexander, Power César, Mahomet)

The Printing Press z. Economy: Industry, global market, capitalism Economy z. Politics: public opinion, modern democracies, Politics human rights z. Religion: reform, religions of terrestrial Religion salvation (socialism, liberalism) z. Knowledge: modern experimental science Knowledge z. Space: interconnection of the earth Space z. Time: revolutions Time z. Power: the printing press civilisation (Europe) Power dominates the world

Cyberspace z. Economy of ideas. Collective intelligence Economy and creativity. z. Politics: towards a global confederation Politics with electronic democracy z. Religion: planetary syncretism. Eastern / Religion Western merging. Evolutionism. z. Knowledge: Simulation & Omnivision Knowledge z. Space : virtual (the real territory is Space semantic) z. Time: real Time z. Power: civilization of computers, “global. Power: american”

Three evolutionary spheres z. Digital code = DNA : life, self organized molecular processes z. Digital code = Nervous systems : perception-action, phenomenal worlds z. Digital code = Language : culture y. Writing : memory of language detached from speakers y. Alphabet : universal code y. Printing Press : autonomous self reproduction of language y. Cyberspace : ubiquity and autonomous action of language. Universal sphere of language. Techno-noosphere. Culture-Biology merging.

The three ecologies Semantic ecology Emotional and perceptive ecology Organic ecology

Techno-noosphere ife l e r twa Gene tic en Languages y l Vi a rtu lit a re Neuroconnexion Sof Hy p Nervous Systems ring DNA erb od Perception ginee ies Organisms Molecular processes

Cyberspace CYBERSPACE tra nsp n o i s clu are n in cy universality

inclusiveness EVERYBODY has his website is included in the public sphere is a source of meaning the concert is more harmonious when everybody listen to everybody is a facet of the collective intelligence has a voice participates to the concert civilisation of dialogue

Transparency making the invisible DIGITAL = PUBLIC Being transparent = empowerment Vision is a creative process omni vision Everything and everyone wants to be acknowledged human society is becoming transparent to itself Everyone can show everything to anybody Anybody can see everything from anywhere Evil fears light

Universality general interconnection LIFE born out of freedom signs reproduce themselves, live in society, act by themselves (softwares, simulations, artificial life, societies of robots and knowbots) Noosphere : virtual biosphere of human langage in cyberspace GAÏA Nervous system of Gaïa piloting the future biological evolution EXPANSION OF DIVERSITY LIFE giving birth to freedom : collective intelligence of the human mind

Knowledge in flux : the second flood z. The end of knowledge in stock ; knowledge in flux and general drifting z. Young people can be more skilled than their elders, ancient ways of cultural transmission are outdated z. What must we put in the ark ? Classifications and hierarchies are temporary and incidental. Several arks practicing collective intelligence. z. Growing responsibility of individuals and groups in the search, production and selection of knowledge. z. Learning navigation (there will be no landing)

The web as an embodiment of CI z The collective mind as a semantic network = sites + links z Energetic, emotional and practical aspects = hits + money + transactions z Reminding processes = search engines z Ideas = web sites y. Mix of discursive interpretation and sensory memory (text and multimedia) y. Every « idea » is a virtual center of the mind => Mobile and entangled hierarchy between areas of knowledge and ideas y. Portals = universal « concepts » y. Sites = « ideas » of individuals z Mind’s life or « world of ideas » = wild evolutionary noetic ecology

Collective intelligence digital grace informational capitalism cyberdemocracy

cyberdemocracy global law Continuous improvement of collective intelligence justice government ONE cyberspace science technology market freedom human race art biosphere planet love PEACE Free circulation Creation of diversity • digital cities • local e governments • virtual agoras • votes on line MANY virtual communities ideas tribes interests traditions tastes species territories religions

ion n o i at l intelligence collective Forecasting Conscious consomption Jus cut n Simulation biosphère R u eg s Exe T tio ce sla s e x a an Le gi Fin tic e Cyberdemocratic governance

the transparent state Networks of virtual agoras and parliaments, Internet voting omnivision Dialogue Network of transparent budgets Environnemental Dialogue simulation networks Biosphere simulation e nc a Fin Jus tic La e w Dialogue

The state serving collective intelligence COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE collective intelligence reflected in the mirror of the transparent state

creation from digital grace Informational capitalism Learning organisations Intertwining virtual � communities of knowledge workers, consumers, investors and partners. Continuous revolution in products, management, finance, marketing, etc. Cooperative competition Competitive advantage to the inventors of the most cooperative games. collective intelligence and creativity main economic goods non destructive consumption ubiquity in cyberspace main production factor Information regulation from cyberdemocratic law unexpected communism Planetary public services Megamergers : 3 multinational companies for each econommic sector worldwide. Conscious investment Shares possessed by the global population playing the stock marcket on line. . Conscious consumption controlled by a transparent cybermarket.

atio n alu Int on erp ati ret Ev Ideas Creation Informations Money Orientation Idea = knowledge form (memory) Information = knowledge novelty (perception) Money = knowledge energy (action) Knowledge Economy

The economic expansion of the world of ideas “appropriate” = “appropriated” Ideas to be discovered Area of maximal collective intelligence Ideas to be discovered Public domain Appropriate ideas Ideas to be discovered

Working = cultivating ideas Producers of appropriate ideas: designers, authors, artists, scientific researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs APPLICATION IDEAS Collective intelligence farmers: managers, leaders, community animators, critics. . . Ideas broadcasters: performers, publishers, distributors, sellers, advertisers, communicators, professors. . . APPLICATION IDEAS OF APPLICATION IDEAS Ideas achievers: administrators, producers, engineers, workers. . .

The company, a virtual community z The company: intertwined symbiotic virtual communities y customers, employees, partners, investors z The transparent company y. Flat hierarchy y. Open communication with partners, customers and shareholders (collaborative business) y. Hypertext company : web, intranet, extranet z The virtual company y= coordination and actualisation of skills unit y≠ legal or spatio-temporal unit z The company: a project of collective intelligence y. Art of cooperation and synergies between informational and intellectual resources y. Art of service and dialogue. Ethics of conversation.

The market, intertwined virtual communities z. Every market is determined by a (second) information market concerning trends, prices and qualities of goods and services. z. Cyberspace is an information market and a transversal (many to many) communication space. z. Markets (including the jobs market) become on line conversations networks in a transparent global space. z. Economic actors become web-media and selfmedia in a global communication space structured by the conversation dynamics of virtual communities.

What does distinguish the philosophy of collective intelligence ? Mind’s life - negative dialectic in the inner monologue of the absolute mind - mutual questioning and cross interpretations of stories in the multilogic meeting place of collective intelligence Ontology and epistemology - realism : we should recognize that things are as they are - constructivism : we are committed to a creative co-evolutionary process with our environment Goal - power (sterilization of the other) - empowerment (fertility, creativity) Practical strategy - power struggle (what is at stake is defeat or victory) - interpretation relationship (what is at stake is creation of meaning)

Collective intelligence ethics z Each one of us is an autonomous and responsible source of meaning. z We can enrich our world by integrating others as autonomous interpretation centers who are complete worlds in themselves. z What is to be done with the other’s meaning production ? Ignore it, tolérate it, despise it, beat it, imitate it…? this would not be a dialogue. z Collective intelligence is the reciprocal implication and mutual recognition of autonomous world ’s sources.

Culture design No theories Continuous learning Cognitive systems design Design Added value Design oriented organisations

d i g i t a l g r a c e INFINITE EMPTINESS CREATION mystic quest technoscience new life new bodies new games new ideas art new ways to bridge minds new languages philosophy new perceptions new forms new questions new meanings improvements of collective intelligence