A slow intelligence system is a system with multiple decision cycles such that actions of slow decision cycle(s) may override actions of quick decision cycle(s), resulting in poorer performance in the short run but better performance in the long run.

Example: In a democracy, if the leader only uses short term feedback to optimize performance, the democracy will become dysfunctional over time. Only when the leader "ignores" short term feedback to achieve long term goals, can a democracy truly realizes its real potential.