Explore a fascinating lecture on how large communication networks influence the formation of shared category systems across cultures. Delve into groundbreaking research that challenges traditional cognitive and social science theories about divergent categorization in populations. Discover how online experiments, including the innovative "Grouping Game," reveal surprising similarities in category formation among large, independent societies. Examine the counterintuitive effects of network dynamics on shared understanding, and learn about critical mass dynamics that predict these outcomes. Gain insights into cultural evolution and potential network-based approaches for promoting cross-cultural comprehension. This thought-provoking talk by Douglas Guilbeault from the University of California, Berkeley, offers a novel perspective on the emergence of shared categories despite individual variation in categorization.