Maybe it's not an either/or, but a difference in the technology used.
Humans are the input in both cases.
The tech you're describing is using one human (or a limited #).
The tech (SWS, etc) described last bread is using a large # of humans.
So a larger data set.
All this tech is is a modern version of an ancient practice called scrying.
The Kobe Bryant video got passed around alot, but part 2 goes into more depth into this.
@13:00-23:00
"The Crystal Ball of Kansas City"
Trust Kansas?
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." – Arthur C. Clarke