---
title: "March Madness: A Swarm Intelligence Is Predicting the Future"
description: "The collective intelligence is killing it on ESPN."
date: "2017-03-20"
modified: "2017-03-21"
authors:
  - name: "Dom Galeon"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/domgaleon"
url: "https://futurism.com/march-madness-a-swarm-intelligence-is-predicting-the-future"
categories:
  - "Artificial Intelligence"
tags:
  - "artificial intelligence"
  - "Swarm Intelligence"
  - "unanimous ai"
  - "unu"
---

# March Madness: A Swarm Intelligence Is Predicting the Future

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/swarm-intell.jpg>)
*Asian woman over microchip circuits. Getty \<em\>Image: Getty\</em\>*

## An AI's Method to the Madness

When [Unanimous AI](<http://unanimous.ai/about-us/>) developed [UNU](<http://unanimous.ai/my-name-is-unu/>) in 2015, the goal was to create artificial intelligence (AI) systems that "keep people in the loop," amplifying human intelligence instead of replacing it.

UNU, the world's first artificial swarm intelligence, has just been getting better ever since, making [a number of remarkably accurate predictions](<https://futurism.com/harnessing-the-power-of-the-hive-mind-has-allowed-one-company-to-predict-the-future>) in 2016. This month, UNU has once again proven its prediction capabilities during [this season's March Madness](<http://unu.ai/ai-beating-94-espn-brackets-update-99/>).

[![March Madness: A Swarm Intelligence Is Predicting the Future](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/new-image.jpg>)](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/new-image.jpg>)

Unanimous AI's March Madness bracket was able to beat all but three percent of ESPN brackets across the country on the first day of the tournament. At the end of Round One, it boasted a record of 28-4 — better than 99 percent of all brackets in ESPN.

"This is exactly what we mean when we say that thinking together in UNU amplifies the intelligence of groups, turning regular fans into super-experts," [according to an update on the UNU website](<http://unu.ai/ai-beating-94-espn-brackets-update-99/>).

## Harnessing the Power of Fans Everywhere

[![\*5\* March Madness: A Swarm Intelligence is Predicting the Future](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/360-predictive-AI.jpg>)](<https://futurism.com/category/ai-artificial-intelligence>)
*[CLICK TO VIEW FULL INFOGRAPHIC](<https://futurism.com/category/ai-artificial-intelligence>)*

This accuracy illustrates the power of swarm AI. The technology makes use of the collective intelligence of people — combining "knowledge, insights, and intuitions," as Unanimous AI puts it — to develop a kind of artificial intelligence that's inherently human. Essentially, Unanimous AI has developed "a social environment that empowers groups to *think together* by forming real-time *swarms*."

Making predictions is just one of the things this technology can do. Ultimately, it's a problem-solving tool that combines the minds of groups of people. As Unanimous AI explains, "We empower people to act as 'data processors' that come together online and form an intelligent system, connected by AI algorithms. The results are deeper insights, more accurate forecasts, and optimized decisions."

![Image credit: UNU](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/output_zItjcM.gif>)
*Image credit: *UNU**

AI systems can do so much because they are able to quickly form conclusions from a host of samples. Swarm AI combines that with real-time insights from people. It's an AI that's not purely artificial, which may prove to be the best kind of AI there is. One day, perhaps we'll be able to combine [the intelligence of Watson](<https://futurism.com/ibms-watson-ai-recommends-same-treatment-as-doctors-in-99-of-cancer-cases>) with that of a swarm of medical professionals to improve healthcare, or combine the insights of [an investment-making AI](<https://futurism.com/the-future-of-investing-ai-run-hedge-funds>) with a swarm of finance experts. Anything AI can do, swarm AI could potentially do better.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-john-galeon-9b086925/>)  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/domgaleon>)