Individual knowledge not always as good as the “wisdom of crowds”
Researchers at Arizona State and Princeton universities have shown that ants perform tasks more rationally than humans. After examining ant colonies living in cavities the size of an acorn, the scientists observed the ability of ants to find new places to roost. The collective decision-making of ants, and their limited individual choice, resulted in more accurate outcomes. This is being dubbed the “wisdom of crowds.” The researchers say that having fewer individual options reduces the frequency of making irrational errors. Their finding suggests that strategically limiting individual knowledge could improve a group’s ability to achieve a goal.