Methods are provided for a collaborative, decentralized insight engineering based on exchanging telemetry vectors with peer network devices. Each network device independently detects a deviation in its functioning using machine learning of generated feature vectors. Specifically, the methods involve obtaining, from at least one peer network device, at least a first feature vector that represents at least one insight generated from telemetry data of a respective peer network device. The intermediate network device and the at least one peer network device are configured to forward packets of a traffic flow. The methods further involve determining whether a deviation related to one or more of the network devices, exists based at least on the first feature vector and performing the at least one predefined action based on determining that the deviation exists.