The Science of Designing Humans
Two frameworks that drive my approach to Agentic AI: understanding people as systems, and designing futures through fiction.
Humics: The Physics of People
Just as a game engine needs physics for objects, it needs 'Humics' for people. My work focuses on quantifying the unquantifiable.
The Core Idea
Humics is my term for the systematic modeling of human social dynamics in computational systems. Where physics engines simulate gravity and collision, Humics engines simulate trust, rapport, and emotional progression. This allows AI agents to behave in ways that feel authentically human.
Trust Dynamics
Modeling how trust builds and erodes through interaction patterns, response timing, and consistency.
Emotional State
Tracking emotional progression through valence, arousal, and dominance dimensions over time.
Hidden Facts
Internal agent knowledge that influences behavior but isn't directly observable by the user.
Rapport Metrics
Quantifying the quality of connection through mirroring, acknowledgment, and reciprocity.
The Humics Equation
Agent responses are not scripted — they emerge from the dynamic interaction of internal state variables and real-time user input.
Speculative Design
Using science fiction methodologies not just to write stories, but to design systems that don't yet exist.
Design for the Decade
My dissertation argued that interactive storytelling games may span more than a decade of player experience. Traditional design methods can't account for this timescale. Speculative Design uses science fiction scenarios to prototype experiences that won't be technically feasible for years — ensuring we're building toward the right future.
Envision the Future
Use science fiction scenarios to imagine systems 10-20 years ahead of current technology.
Work Backwards
Identify the technical and social requirements needed to reach that envisioned future.
Prototype the Gap
Build systems that bridge current capabilities with future possibilities.
Iterate with Fiction
Use narrative scenarios to stress-test designs before implementation.
Where These Ideas Come From
The unexpected connections between tabletop RPGs, science fiction, and AI systems design.
Fractal history-building techniques inform how AI agents construct coherent backstories.
RPG mechanics translate directly to agent behavior rules and goal prioritization.
Speculative narratives become design documents for systems that don't yet exist.
“Whether it's a Microscope history of a fictional world or a survival plan for uncertain futures, I treat every scenario as a simulation to be solved.”
— The unifying thread across all my work
See These Methodologies in Action
From academic theory to enterprise implementation.