hivemind

1. (science fiction) A collection of minds somehow linked or unified, possibly as if by telepathy.Examples: "It traces the growth of homo gestalt with the uniting of six lovely outcasts of society who have psi powers and come together as a hive mind, thus creating a gestalt super-being."; "Though now extinct, the rachni once threatened every species in Citadel space. Over 2000 years ago, explorers foolishly opened a mass relay to a previously-unknown system and encountered something never seen before or since: a species of spacefaring insects guided by a hive-mind intelligence."; "We have the villainous Borg of Star Trek: a hive mind of individuals robbed of their individuality, communicating with each other not by touch or even speech but by omnipresent computer networks."Synonyms: groupmind

2. (by extension) Collective intelligence, especially when facilitated by communications technology.Examples: "The marvel of “hive mind” is that no one is in control, and yet an invisible hand governs, a hand that emerges from very dumb members."; "The hive mind should be thought of as a tool. Empowering the collective does not empower individuals — just the reverse is true."; "In any case, culture and technology are increasingly reliant on the hive mind–and whatever its faults, Lanier's broadside helps us consider the consequences of this momentous development."Synonyms: swarm intelligencebroadly

3. (derogatory) A group of people who uncritically share beliefs or mindlessly follow orders.Examples: "Lehman, AIG, Anglo-Irish, etc. were not cases of immortal hive-minds at work; they were cases of kleptocrats run wild."Synonyms: sheeplederogatory