Science

Who Will Win Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers? A.I. Predicts

It's an AFC North showdown. Gulp.

Getty Images / Andy Lyons

Less than a week after the Pittsburgh Steelers played one of the most brutally violent games of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals, they take on another AFC North foe in the Baltimore Ravens. A hive mind of about 30 NFL fans predicts the Steelers will win Sunday.

The Ravens and Steelers are both known for playing physical, ugly football, but hopefully they can spare us a repeat of some of the horrors on display in that Steelers-Bengals game. This will likely be a defensive battle though, at least if Baltimore wants to have any chance, considering just how bad Joe Flacco has been for the Ravens this season. The Steelers want this game to keep them on track for a big showdown next week against the New England Patriots, who have an identical 10-2 record atop the AFC.

From their game earlier this season.

Getty Images / Tasos Katopodis

To predict the result of this and other games, Unanimous A.I. used what’s known as swarm intelligence to forecast the week’s slate. About 30 NFL fans worked together as a hive mind to make picks. As you can see in the animation below, each participant controlled a little golden magnet and used it to drag the puck toward the answer they thought was the most likely outcome. As the users saw the puck move toward a particular outcome, it triggers a psychological response. They readjust their decision-making, building toward a consensus. Here’s Unanimous A.I. founder Louis Rosenberg explaining swarm intelligence at a recent TEDx Talk.

Unanimous A.I. has made some scarily accurate predictions in the past using swarm intelligence, as our previous article explains. For instance, the swarm went a perfect 7-0 in its most recommended picks for a recent English Premier League slate.

Unanimous A.I.

The swarm predicts Pittsburgh will win with high confidence and 80 percent brainpower.

Unanimous A.I.

The hive mind likes Pittsburgh to win by seven to nine points, with 82 percent brainpower behind that pick. The Vegas line has Pittsburgh by 4.5 points.

The game kicks off 8:30 p.m. Eastern Sunday on NBC.

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