Coco Krumme traces the fascinating history of optimization from its roots in America's founding principles, to its dominance as the driving principle of our modern world. Optimized models underlie everything and are deeply embedded in the technologies and assumptions that have come to comprise not only our material reality, but what we make of it. How did a mathematical concept take on such outsized cultural shape?

Krumme's work in scientific computation made her aware of optimization's overreach, where she observed that streamlined systems are less resilient and more at risk of failure. They limit our options and narrow our perspectives. Optimal Illusions exposes the sizable bargains we have made in the name of optimization and asks us to consider what comes next.

Coco Krumme is an applied mathematician and writer. After completing a doctorate at MIT and working in academia and tech, Krumme founded Leeward Co, a consultancy that helps research teams with computational science and strategy (aka data science) in agriculture, climate science, logistics, materials and biosciences. Krumme's first book is Optimal Illusions: The False Promise of Optimization.

"The False Promise of Optimization" was given on September 12, 02023 as part of The Long Now Foundation's Seminar series. The series was started in 02003 to build a compelling body of ideas about long-term thinking from some of the world's leading thinkers. The Seminars take place in San Francisco and are curated and hosted by Stewart Brand. To follow the talks, you can:

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