In this debut episode of Layers of Simulation, host Mac, a pilot and human factor specialist, addresses the challenges of making tough decisions in complicated situations, drawing insights from flying and everyday life. Mac introduces two AI voices representing ideas from his own thinking: Ren, who offers the physics perspective, and Rowan, who shares the math perspective. The discussion centers on how complex situations arise when many elements interact, such as air currents or many particles moving at once. Ren explains that small changes can create big effects, citing the butterfly effect as an example. To deal with this unpredictability, physics uses probabilities to guide decisions and recognizes that materials (like metal in plane wings) and people can get tired and make mistakes under repeated stress. Rowan details how mathematics helps by using models, probability, game theory, chaos theory, and feedback loops to predict outcomes and find the safest or strongest choices, referred to as robust strategies. Both fields address uncertainty: physics advises listeners to expect surprises and design systems to be safe where possible, while mathematics suggests using Bayesian thinking to update decisions as new information is gathered. Mac summarizes the human factors perspective, emphasizing the need to know the brain's limits, watch for biases, communicate clearly, and practice good decision-making skills.

You have been listening to Layers of Simulation, hosted by Mac, your human factors specialist