6G and Next-Generation Internet

5From Superorganism to Stigmergic Society & Collective Intelligence in the 6G Era

DOI: 10.1201/9781003427322-5

INTRODUCTION

Unlike previous generations, future sixth generation (6G) networks are anticipated to be transformative by revolutionizing the wireless evolution from “connected things” to “connected intelligence” [1]. In his critically acclaimed book “Social Physics,” a term originally coined by Auguste Comte, the founder of modern sociology, MIT Media Lab professor Alex Pentland argues that social interactions (e.g., social learning and social pressure) are the primary forces driving the evolution of collective intelligence (CI). According to Pentland, CI emerges through shared learning of surrounding peers and harnessing the power ...