Populist support for Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders in defiance of the “political elite” has revealed a major upheaval in American politics. Similar trends in the United Kingdom has resulted in England leaving the European Union, a stunning outcome that has shaken the whole world.
Some believe this political unrest will simply blow over, while others think it will lead to major changes in America’s current party system. Some even go as far to say these recent political trends signify the twilight of this mighty nation. This begs the question:
“How pessimistic are Americans, really?”
If you believe the polls, you’d think most Americans fear our country is unraveling. But is that really what people believe? Here at Unanimous A.I. we know polls are polarizing, amplifying fringe fears, while overlooking central tendencies. That’s why we focus on Swarm Intelligence, a unique form of A.I. technology that empowers online groups to quickly converge on the views and opinions best reflect their collective sentiment.
This week, a research team convened swarms of 50 to 80 randomly selected U.S. voters, and asked them evocative questions, aimed at exposing pessimism among the voting public. The first question posed was inspired by last week’s shocking Brexit vote – What are the odds that one or more states will secede from the US in the next 20 years?
Despite the doom and gloom in current opinion polls, the Swarm Intelligence declared a 0% chance of a state seceding. This suggests that public opinion is not as apocalyptic as the pundits imply. Of course, with the financial implications of Brexit looming large in the news, the biggest fears are economic rather than political. So, researchers asked the Swarm Intelligence: Will the US face an economic collapse within the next 20 years…
Again, the Swarm Intelligence expressed a measured response. This suggests that despite the heated political dialogue, the general public does not buy into the extreme negativity surrounding America’s future. But what if we take a longer time horizon? Will America collapse within the next 50 years?
Again, a very measured response. Researchers at Unanimous A.I. believe the swarming data suggests that although many recent opinion polls highlight the extreme sentiments at the fringes of our political spectrum, most American voters have a far more optimistic outlook. Of course, optimism can quickly change to pessimism based on evolving world events, so only time will tell if the current rise of angry populism is a temporary trend, or a precursor to major shifts.
Want to take part in a swarm? Join the conversation happening now in UNU.
