Meditations on COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE Pierre Lévy

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

Society = Mind Individuals = NodesEmotions = Links Evolution du monde des idées Technology = Structure Evolution of the World of Ideas Community = Network

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

Collective intelligence dynamics Collective Intelligence creation

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

Evolution of language life : improvements of collective memory noosphere 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 matterOrality Writing Alphabet Printing Press Cyberspace

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

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

Orality zEconomy zEconomy : hunting, gathering zPolitics zPolitics : tribe zReligion zReligion : animism, chamanism zKnowledge zKnowledge : myths, rituals, know-how zSpace zSpace : centered cosmos zTime zTime : cyclic

Writing zEconomy zEconomy : agriculture zPolitics zPolitics : State, law, justice zReligions zReligions : polytheist with priests zKnowledge zKnowledge : systematic zSpace zSpace : territory zTime zTime : History zPower zPower : great civilisations of ideographic writing : Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Pre-Columbian cultures, etc.

The Alphabet zEconomy zEconomy : commerce, money zPolitics zPolitics : city, democracy zReligion zReligion : monotheism, buddhism zKnowledge zKnowledge : sciences & philosophies with universal scope zSpace zSpace : universal but abstract zTime zTime : consciousness of history zPower zPower : alphabetical empires (Alexander, César, Mahomet)

The Printing Press zEconomy zEconomy: Industry, global market, capitalism zPolitics zPolitics: public opinion, modern democracies, human rights zReligion zReligion: reform, religions of terrestrial salvation (socialism, liberalism) zKnowledge zKnowledge: modern experimental science zSpace zSpace: interconnection of the earth zTime zTime: revolutions zPower zPower: the printing press civilisation (Europe) dominates the world

Cyberspace zEconomy zEconomy of ideas. Collective intelligence and creativity. zPolitics zPolitics: towards a global confederation with electronic democracy zReligion zReligion: planetary syncretism. Eastern / Western merging. Evolutionism. zKnowledge zKnowledge: Simulation & Omnivision zSpace zSpace : virtual (the real territory is semantic) zTime zTime: real zPower: zPower: civilization of computers, “global- american”

Three evolutionary spheres zDigital code = DNA : life, self organized molecular processes zDigital code = Nervous systems : perception-action, phenomenal worlds zDigital code = Language : culture yWriting : memory of language detached from speakers yAlphabet : universal code yPrinting Press : autonomous self reproduction of language yCyberspace : 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 DNA Organisms Molecular processes Perception Nervous Systems Languages Software life Genetic engineering Virtual reality Neuroconnexion Hyperbodies

Cyberspace inclusion universality transparency CYBERSPACE

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

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

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

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

The web as an embodiment of CI zThe collective mind as a semantic network = sites + links zEnergetic, emotional and practical aspects = hits + money + transactions zReminding processes = search engines zIdeas = web sites yMix of discursive interpretation and sensory memory (text and multimedia) yEvery « idea » is a virtual center of the mind => Mobile and entangled hierarchy between areas of knowledge and ideas yPortals = universal « concepts » ySites = « ideas » of individuals zMind’s life or « world of ideas » = wild evolutionary noetic ecology

Collective intelligence digital grace informational capitalism cyberdemocracy

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

Cyberdemocratic governance intelligence collective Simulation biosphère Forecasting Conscious consomption Finances Taxes Regulation Justice Legislation Execution

omnivision Biosphere simulation Finance Justice Law Dialogue Networks of virtual agoras and parliaments, Internet voting Network of transparent budgets Environnemental simulation networks the transparent state

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

Informational capitalism creation from digital grace regulation from cyberdemocratic law main economic goods non destructive consumption ubiquity in cyberspace main production factor 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. Information collective intelligence and creativity 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.

Money Ideas Informations Creation Orientation Evaluation Interpretation Idea = knowledge form (memory) Information = knowledge novelty (perception) Money = knowledge energy (action) Knowledge Economy

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

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

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 dialogue. Ethics of conversation. y Art of service and dialogue. Ethics of conversation.

The market, intertwined virtual communities zEvery market is determined by a (second) information market concerning trends, prices and qualities of goods and services. is zCyberspace is an information market and a transversal (many to many) communication space. zMarkets (including the jobs market) become on line conversations networks in a transparent global space. zEconomic actors become web-media and self- media 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 zEach one of us is an autonomous and responsible source of meaning. zWe can enrich our world by integrating others as autonomous interpretation centers who are complete worlds in themselves. zWhat 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. zCollective intelligence is the reciprocal implication and mutual recognition of autonomous world ’s sources.

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

digitalgracedigitalgrace INFINITE EMPTINESS mystic quest CREATION technoscience art philosophy new forms new meanings new ideas new questions new games improvements of collective intelligence new life new ways to bridge minds new bodies new perceptions new languages