A process for recognizing and responding to a detected audio inquiry by gathering information distributed amongst users and providing a calculated result includes monitoring audio communications and detecting an audio inquiry from a first electronic communication device. It is determined then the audio inquiry is of a distributed information gathering and mathematical operation type and, in response, a plurality of target electronic communication devices that are capable of providing partial answers to the audio inquiry are identified and a request for a partial answer transmitted to each. Corresponding partial answers are received and a mathematical operation performed on the partial answers to generate a final answer to the audio inquiry different from the corresponding partial answers. The final answer is then provided to the first electronic communication device.