Computational Collective Intelligence (CCI) is most often understood as an AI sub-field dealing with soft computing methods which enable making group decisions or processing knowledge among autonomous units acting in distributed environments.

Web-based systems, multi-agent systems, social networks, collaborative environments very often need these tools for working out consistent knowledge states, resolving conflicts and making decisions.

Collective intelligence is a shared intelligence that emerges from the collaboration and competition of many individuals. It takes many forms of consensus decision making in animals, humans, and digital computer networks.