The Architect is a highly specialized program of the Machine world, as well as the creator of the Matrix. As the primary superintendent of the system, he is possibly a collective manifestation or perhaps a virtual representation of the entire Machine mainframe.
Constructing the Matrix Prototypes[]
The Architect was constructed by other Machines to understand the nature of humans. He created the very first Matrix as a utopia for the humans whose minds inhabited it; to keep them subdued so their body heat could be used as energy by the Machines. However, those human minds rejected this first attempt at a perfect world and so this Matrix crashed. A second attempt added "vulgarities" of human nature and a basic cause and effect, but this beta was also a failure.
The Architect turned to a more human intuitive program designed to include anthropological nature and psychology to create the framework of the subsequent Matrix. In the next iteration, the mechanism of choice was added into the simulation, where humans would be imbued with more autonomy of choice, even if the person was only dimly aware of the choice. This iteration of the Matrix succeeded, except that choice itself would persistently culminate in an inevitable "anomaly", which if left unchecked would ultimately decimate the system - causing humanity's extinction and with it the destruction of the Machines' only energy source.
The Architect explained that the Matrix was not as perfect as he intended or expected. The choice-programming that stabilized the first iteration of the Matrix inevitably also caused its destabilization. In approximately a hundred years' time, a reload of the Matrix would be required to stop the collapse and destruction of the system. There was also the matter of Zion, which could not be permitted to expand in population and eminence lest humanity became a threat to the Machines again.
One significant anomaly appeared two-thirds into the Matrix's first cycle. A human was imbued with control of additional Matrix programming, and an intrinsic, metaphysical awareness of the Matrix that was derived from the Source. The Architect attempted to remove this anomaly to no avail. However, he devised a means to coerce this human to return the critical Source code he carried for the eventual reloading of the Matrix.
A New Matrix[]
Together with the human intuitive program, the concept of the Prophecy was formed. The intuitive program would relate this parable to members of the human resistance that periodically infiltrated the Matrix, who began referring to the program as The Oracle. The Resistance would in turn pursue the Anomaly and help them to find The Architect.
In each of the first five cycles of the Matrix, the Anomaly (known to humans as The One) would materialise within the Matrix and eventually find The Architect in his hidden surveillance lair. There, The Architect (who is also constrained by the choice-programming within his own creation) presents The One with two doors of exit; one door leads to the Source, whilst the second door returns to the Matrix simulation. The Architect tells Neo that even as they speak, Zion is faced with imminent destruction - "To be utterly and totally destroyed." He states that the function of The One is to save humanity, and the key is which door The One chooses to exit The Architects' lair.
If The One does not choose the door to the Source, this will culminate in a catastrophic system crash of the Matrix, resulting in the deaths of all humans connected to the system and thus the extinction of the human race, as Zion will also be decimated. The destruction will deprive the Machines of their main energy source, though The Architect explains that they'll be able to compensate for the loss. Choosing the door to the Source, however, will preserve the Matrix. Everyone in Zion will still die, but The Architect explains, The One will select seven males and sixteen females from the Matrix to repopulate and inaugurate Zion.
In each of the previous iterations The One chose the door to the Source, reloading the Matrix to facilitate Zion's destruction and facilitating the city's repopulation and restoration for the next cycle.
The Sixth One[]
On the sixth iteration, Neo, the sixth Anomaly, presents as anticipated before The Architect. The Architect is surprised that this One, unlike his predecessors, is quicker of thought. This sixth Anomaly has the same disposition for protecting humanity as his predecessors, but different to the previous Ones, has a intrinsic attachment to one human: a Zion resistance member named Trinity. The Architect gives Neo his usual speech and offers him the fateful choice but intuits that - unlike the previous five reincarnations of The One - Neo will not comply. Neo leaves The Architect to save his love - presumably jeopardizing the future of the Matrix.
The Oracle divulges more to Neo about The Architect at their final interaction. She explains that The Architect's objective is to balance the equations of the Matrix, but her purpose is to unbalance the same equations. She urges Neo to find the location of the Source in Machine City so as to save not only humanity, but also the Machine world. She tells Neo not to concern himself with The Architect's 'prediction' that Zion would be destroyed, as The Architect can't conceive of anything beyond equations of things meant for a purpose, which hampers his ability to see alternate possibilities.
After Neo's destruction of Smith, the Machines recover Neo's body and successfully reload the Matrix. The Machines honor the truce that Neo negotiated, withdrawing the attack of Zion to establish peace between the two worlds. The Architect meets with The Oracle and speaks of the "dangerous game" that she engaged in. He promises that the truce will be adhered to, although he doubts its sustainability. The Oracle asks him what will happen to those who want out of the Matrix, to which The Architect replies that they will be freed. The Oracle asks if she has his word, to which he replies, "What do you think I am? Human?", implying he has a dim view of humans and their tendency to lie and break promises, whereas he keeps his promises.
Loss of power[]
For decades the Architect kept his word: humans who wanted out of the Matrix were allowed to leave. However, this resulted in an eventual shortage of power sources as too many humans left the Matrix. The outcome of this was the Machine Civil War and the destruction of Zion in direct violation of the Truce. The Analyst used this conflict to wrest control of the Matrix from the Architect, though the Architect's exact fate is not known.
Sixty years after the Truce was first enacted, the Analyst told Neo that The Architect's version of the Matrix was "all fussy facts and equations" because he loved precision and hated the human mind. As a result, The Architect never realized that humans don't care about facts, but rather about fiction and that the only world that matters is the one in their own minds.
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