A new field of collective intelligence has emerged in the last few years prompted by a wave of digital technologies that make it possible for organizations & societies to think at large scale This "bigger mind"--human & machine capabilities working together--has the potential to solve the great challenges of our time So why do smart technologies not automatically lead to smart results? Gathering insights from diverse fields including philosophy computer science & biology Big Mind reveals how collective intelligence can guide corporations governments universities & societies to make the most of human brains & digital technologies Geoff Mulgan explores how collective intelligence has to be consciously organized & orchestrated in order to harness its powers He looks at recent experiments mobilizing millions of people to solve problems & at groundbreaking technology like Google Maps & Dove satellites He also considers why organizations full of smart people & machines can make foolish mistakes--from investment banks losing billions to intelligence agencies misjudging geopolitical events--and shows how to avoid them Highlighting differences between environments that stimulate intelligence & those that blunt it Mulgan shows how human & machine intelligence could solve challenges in business climate change democracy & public health But for that to happen we'll need radically new professions institutions & ways of thinking Informed by the latest work on data web platforms & artificial intelligence Big Mind shows how collective intelligence could help us survive & thrive