This document discusses some of the implications of programming randomness and serendipity into future technologies to manipulate human desire and create illusions. It raises questions about whether randomness should be designed into a gamified future, what the social and cognitive ramifications may be of such an approach, and whether just because we can evolve certain technologies means we should. Concerns are also raised about whether technologies will create echo chambers that only expose us to what we want to encounter.

1. ILLUSIONS OF LIFE:
an informal discussion
“This is a very complicated case Maude. You know, a lotta
ins, a lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.” - The Dude
jay iorio
director of innovation
IEEE-SA
bc [ heavy ] biermann
founder
the heavy projects

2. ILLUSIONS OF LIFE
TECHNOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE
+ SHOULD WE PROGRAM SERENDIPITY
AND “SEEMING” RANDOMNESS INTO
FUTURE SYSTEMS
+ WILL SUCH RANDOMNESS BE
DESIGNED INTO A GAMIFIED AND
ILLUSION-BASED FUTURE SO THAT
HUMAN DESIRE CAN BE MORE
EASILY MANIPULATED?
+ WHAT ARE THE SHORT TO LONGER
TERM SOCIAL, COGNITIVE, AND
EXISTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF
THIS CONVERGENCE?
+ JUST BECAUSE WE “CAN” EVOLVE
THESE TECHNOLOGIES… DOES IT
MEAN WE “SHOULD”?
+ ARE WE CREATING AN ECHO-
CHAMBER EXPOSING US TO
ONLY WHAT WE WANT TO
ENCOUNTER, OR HAVE BEEN
CONVINCED WE WANT TO
ENCOUNTER?