Book contents
- From Groups to Gods
- From Groups to Gods
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- 1Evidence for Group Mind
- 2Definitions and Assumptions of Group Mind
- 3Superorganisms and Group Minds
- 4Growing and Destroying a Group Mind
- 5Evolutionary Emergence of Group Mind
- 6Historical Evolution of Group Mind
- 7Content of Group Minds
- 8Neuroscience of Group Minds
- 9Individual in Relation to Group Minds
- 10Group Mind in Group Psychotherapy
- 11Group Mind and Dreams
- 12Group Mind and Leadership
- 13Group Mind and Politics
- 14Group Mind in the Major Evolutionary Transition
- 15Group Mind and the New Religious Consciousness
- References
- Index
14 - Group Mind in the Major Evolutionary Transition
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2026
Book contents
- From Groups to Gods
- From Groups to Gods
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- 1Evidence for Group Mind
- 2Definitions and Assumptions of Group Mind
- 3Superorganisms and Group Minds
- 4Growing and Destroying a Group Mind
- 5Evolutionary Emergence of Group Mind
- 6Historical Evolution of Group Mind
- 7Content of Group Minds
- 8Neuroscience of Group Minds
- 9Individual in Relation to Group Minds
- 10Group Mind in Group Psychotherapy
- 11Group Mind and Dreams
- 12Group Mind and Leadership
- 13Group Mind and Politics
- 14Group Mind in the Major Evolutionary Transition
- 15Group Mind and the New Religious Consciousness
- References
- Index
Summary
I argue that that the “current era” involves a revolutionary transformation in group mind phenomena as we add AI superintelligent machines to the things that (when they cooperate with humans) very likely generate group minds. The AI–human hybrid cooperatives are also facilitating what I argue (along with many other scholars) is a major evolutionary transition into a global group mind that encompasses the entire globe. I consider the impact that developments in superintelligent AI will have on group mind phenomena. I discuss, in particular, multi-agent AI systems that are capable of cooperating with other AI agents and with humans. AI–human hybrids will produce new forms of group mind phenomena characterized in part by techno-biotic forms of cognition.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- From Groups to GodsNeuroscience and Evolution of the Collective Mind, pp. 265 - 286Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
Accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AAA
Why this information is here
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.Accessibility Information
The HTML of this chapter complies with version 2.2 of the
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
(WCAG), offering more comprehensive accessibility measures for a broad range
of users and attains the highest
(AAA)
level of WCAG compliance, optimising the user experience by meeting the most extensive
accessibility guidelines.
Content Navigation
Table of contents navigation
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Index navigation
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Reading Order & Textual Equivalents
Single logical reading order
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
Short alternative textual descriptions
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
Visualised data also available as non-graphical data
You can access graphs or charts in a text or tabular format, so you are not excluded if you cannot process visual displays.
You can access graphs or charts in a text or tabular format, so you are not excluded if you cannot process visual displays.
Visual Accessibility
Use of colour is not sole means of conveying information
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
Use of high contrast between text and background colour
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.