Colloquium: "On the mathematics of wisdom of crowds and social influence"

Professor Francesco Bullo is ​a 2021/2022 Sackler Lecturer of the Mortimer and Raymond Sackler Institute of Advanced Studies.

Abstract:

This talk will review various mathematical models and analysis results for the study of the wisdom of crowds phenomenon and its relationship with social influence. The aim is to understand conditions under which a social influence system enhances, preserves, or diminishes the wisdom of crowd effect. Combining concepts from cognitive psychology and mathematical sociology, I will elaborate on the nexus of expertise, self-confidence, interpersonal influence, and team performance in intellective issues. I will show a fragility property of the wisdom phenomenon, in the presence of irrational individuals.

Joint work with Omid Askarisichani, Giacomo Como, Fabio Fagnani, Noah Friedkin, Elizabeth Huang, Ambuj Singh, Ye Tian.