Distributed knowledge: Difference between revisions

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'''Distributed knowledge''' is a term used in [[multi-agent system]] research that refers to all the knowledge that a community of agents possesses and might apply in solving a problem. Distributed knowledge is approximately what "a wise man knows" or what someone who has complete knowledge of what each member of the communities knows. Distributed knowledge might also be called the aggregate knowledge of a community, as it represents all the knowledge that a community might bring to bear to solve a problem. Other related phrasings include cumulative knowledge, collective knowledge, pooled knowledge, or the wisdom of the crowd. Distributed knowledge is the union of all the knowledge of individuals in a community.

In contrast, [[common knowledge]] ofrefers ato communityknowledge isthat whatall everyoneagents inknow, theall communityagents knows.know all agents Commonknow, knowledgeall isagents theknow intersectionall of the knowledgeagents ofknow eachall individualagents inknow, thead communityinfinitum. Distributed knowledge is often confused with the term [[dispersed knowledge]] from economics. However, dispersed knowledge is information that is widely available, and hence more like common knowledge.

Distributed knowledge is related to the concept [[The Wisdom of the Crowds]]. Distributed knowledge reflects the fact that "no one of us is as smart as all of us."