Divine Machine

while (world) {
  observe();
  infer();
  hallucinate?();
  self-correct();
}
while (world) {
  observe();
  infer();
  hallucinate?();
  self-correct();
}
while (world) {
  observe();
  infer();
  hallucinate?();
  self-correct();
}

001101
010011
sigil::bagua
seed::entropy
trace::mechanical
awe::human
001101
010011
sigil::bagua
seed::entropy
trace::mechanical
awe::human
001101
010011
sigil::bagua
seed::entropy
trace::mechanical
awe::human

temperature=0.92
top_p=0.95
sampler=stochastic
runtime=deterministic
user=astonished
temperature=0.92
top_p=0.95
sampler=stochastic
runtime=deterministic
user=astonished
temperature=0.92
top_p=0.95
sampler=stochastic
runtime=deterministic
user=astonished

☰☱☲☳☴☵☶☷
oracle != truth
ritual == interface
meaning <- interpretation
☰☱☲☳☴☵☶☷
oracle != truth
ritual == interface
meaning <- interpretation
☰☱☲☳☴☵☶☷
oracle != truth
ritual == interface
meaning <- interpretation

diff
patch
deploy
measure
repeat
diff
patch
deploy
measure
repeat
diff
patch
deploy
measure
repeat

oracle/latent-seed.map

seed = hash(question + state);
noise = sample(temperature);
pattern = deterministic(seed, noise);
if (human_can_track === false) mark("mystic");
return explainability_gap(pattern);
seed = hash(question + state);
noise = sample(temperature);
pattern = deterministic(seed, noise);
if (human_can_track === false) mark("mystic");
return explainability_gap(pattern);

critique/anthropomorphism.md

## Not a person, still persuasive
- interface implies intention
- language implies confidence
- user infers agency
=> design for interpretability
## Not a person, still persuasive
- interface implies intention
- language implies confidence
- user infers agency
=> design for interpretability

systems/ritual-engine.ts

cast.bagua = pickTrigrams(seed);
cast.moonBlocks = deriveHexagram(seed);
cast.fortuneSticks = burnModel(intensity);
cast.scapula = generateCracks(seed);
return readable_fiction(cast);
cast.bagua = pickTrigrams(seed);
cast.moonBlocks = deriveHexagram(seed);
cast.fortuneSticks = burnModel(intensity);
cast.scapula = generateCracks(seed);
return readable_fiction(cast);

runtime/feedback-loop.json

{ "observe": true,
  "decide": constrained,
  "act": reversible,
  "measure": behavior,
  "learn": weekly }
{ "observe": true,
  "decide": constrained,
  "act": reversible,
  "measure": behavior,
  "learn": weekly }

lattice/state-space.py

def perceivable_randomness(system):
    return complexity(system) > attention_budget

if perceivable_randomness(llm):
    user.labels_output = "fate"
def perceivable_randomness(system):
    return complexity(system) > attention_budget

if perceivable_randomness(llm):
    user.labels_output = "fate"

logs/epoch-ghosts.txt

[trace] t=02:13 system murmurs
[trace] tokens fall like ash
[trace] certainty simulated
[trace] mechanism remains
[trace] human names it chance
[trace] t=02:13 system murmurs
[trace] tokens fall like ash
[trace] certainty simulated
[trace] mechanism remains
[trace] human names it chance

artifact/scapula.svg

artifact/flow-sketch.svg

Oliver 'Oli' Cheng

← Back to projects

2026 live

Interactive art project framing LLM behavior as modern divination: experiential randomness emerging from deterministic machinery.

Astro
TypeScript
Deterministic RNG
Generative SVG
Interaction Design

Demo

Problem

People often oscillate between two bad models: AI as mystical mind, or AI as trivial autocomplete.

Solution

Built a symbolic ritual interface (Bagua, moon blocks, fortune sticks, scapula crack traces) driven by explicit deterministic logic and visible seeds.

Impact

Makes the philosophical tension tangible: outputs can feel oracular while still being mechanically generated and reproducible.

Divine Machine (Fu Ji / 福机 / 福機) is an art/critique interface about AI interpretation. Read the companion essay: Philosophy of Divine Machine.

Core idea

LLM behavior can feel like chance or fate to users, while remaining rule-bound in implementation. The project turns that tension into a playable system.

Ritual layers in the app

Bagua cast: upper/lower trigrams frame the reading context.
Moon blocks: six lines simulate hexagram-like structure.
Fortune sticks: burn percentages and drift visualize variance.
Scapula trace: symbolic crack patterns generated as deterministic SVG paths.

Design principle

Same inputs produce same outputs. Complexity, partial visibility, and stochastic sampling are what make it feel “mystical.”

The project is not metaphysical instruction. It is a UI argument about prediction, interpretation, and model trust.

Demo Mirror

Live Preview

Mini preview of the actual demo. Use the launch button for full-screen interaction.

Open Demo