Humans Cannot Generate Truly Random Numbers, Surveys Show 🇺🇸

Original source: Eze Martínez

This video from Eze Martínez covered a lot of ground. Streamed.News selected 8 key moments and summarises them here. Everything below links directly to the timestamp in the original video.

Think of a random number from 1 to 100. Your choice is likely less random than you imagine, matching thousands of others.

Humans Cannot Generate Truly Random Numbers, Surveys Show

Humans cannot generate truly random numbers, despite their best efforts. A survey asked over 2,000 people to choose a random number between 1 and 100. Clear patterns emerged: numbers like 7, 73, and 77 were chosen disproportionately often. Conversely, round numbers such as 20, 30, 40, and 90 were largely avoided. These findings, consistent with other studies like Veritasium's, suggest a hidden brain pattern prevents truly random choices, favoring numbers we perceive as 'more random'.

"It seems there's a hidden pattern in our brain that prevents us from generating random numbers, no matter how hard we try."

▶ Watch this segment — 1:00

Gambler's Fallacy: Streaks Don't Alter Future Probabilities

In truly random sequences, patterns inevitably appear, often leading to the 'gambler's fallacy.' This error makes people believe that if an outcome, like black on a roulette wheel, occurs repeatedly, the opposite outcome is more likely next to 'balance things out.' However, each spin is an independent event. The probability of red or black remains 50% for every turn, regardless of past results. While long-term outcomes tend towards a 50/50 split, the absolute difference in counts for each color can grow infinitely.

"The probability of black on the next spin is exactly the same as red. This is because probabilities are independent; they don't depend on what came before."

▶ Watch this segment — 5:50

Chaos Sensitivity: Why Even Casino Dice Aren't Truly Random

Everyday objects like dice aren't truly random. Physical imperfections, such as weight-altering pips or rounded edges, prevent this. Casino dice, manufactured to 0.01mm precision for fairness, still produce deterministic outcomes. Theoretically, knowing all initial variables—force, friction, etc.—would allow 100% accurate prediction. However, a millimeter change in launch point drastically alters the result. This extreme 'sensitivity to initial conditions' defines chaos, a principle making predictable systems practically unpredictable.

"This sensitivity to initial conditions is called chaos."

▶ Watch this segment — 11:16

'Three-Body Problem' Shows Why Deterministic Systems Become Unpredictable

Even systems governed by deterministic physical laws can become chaotic and unpredictable. While a two-body orbit is calculable, adding a third—the 'three-body problem'—creates complexity that prevents long-term prediction. Consider a pool table: after just six or seven collisions, nearby gravitational forces already influence the outcome.

This extreme sensitivity to initial conditions explains why phenomena like weather, earthquakes, or hurricanes are unpredictable weeks in advance. Particle interactions are so vast they'd require omniscient universal knowledge to calculate.

"To calculate 50 oxygen molecule collisions, we'd need omniscience—knowing the exact location of every elementary particle in the universe at this precise moment."

▶ Watch this segment — 13:14

How Computers Generate 'Random' Numbers from Deterministic Formulas

Computers are deterministic machines following precise instructions, so how do they generate random numbers? The answer lies in algorithms like the linear congruential generator, which uses a mathematical formula to produce a number sequence from an initial seed. Each new number calculates from the previous one.

The sequence's apparent randomness depends on the formula's parameters. Assigning colors to numbers and visualizing the sequence shows that good parameter combinations produce patternless visual noise. Poor combinations, however, reveal repetitive structures, betraying their predictable nature.

"If this formula doesn't generate random numbers, we'd see a clear, repeating pattern. If truly random, we'd see no pattern, just complete noise."

▶ Watch this segment — 15:51

Randu Algorithm Reveals How Hidden Patterns Disqualify Pseudo-Random Number Generators

Pseudo-random number generators, while useful, can hide patterns that reveal their lack of true randomness. The Randu algorithm, popular in the 60s and 70s, produced a sequence that appeared as white noise and unpredictable when visualized in two dimensions. No repetitive patterns were visible to the naked eye.

However, plotting the generated numbers as coordinates in three-dimensional space exposed a hidden structure: points aligned on only 15 distinct planes. This proved the algorithm incapable of generating certain numbers, invalidating it as a pure randomness source.

"Until we rotate the graph a bit and see this. There are 15 planes of results. This means the algorithm cannot generate certain numbers."

▶ Watch this segment — 18:00

Cloudflare Uses Lava Lamps for Internet Security

Computers use two types of randomness. Video games, like Minecraft, generate "pseudo-random" numbers from predictable formulas. These suffice for entertainment but not security.

Modern cryptography needs truly random numbers from unpredictable physical phenomena. Cloudflare, for instance, draws randomness from atmospheric noise or the chaotic motion of bubbles in a wall of lava lamps, powering digital security.

"When a computer seeks truly random numbers, it observes our world. Our world is inherently random. It's unpredictable."

▶ Watch this segment — 19:44

Quantum Mechanics: Universe's Only True Randomness Source

True randomness stems from quantum mechanics, not classical chaotic systems. Particles, like electrons, exist in superposition, occupying multiple places at once. Measurement collapses their wave function, forcing an intrinsically unpredictable, defined state.

This non-deterministic principle disproves Einstein's "hidden variables" theory, affirming uncertainty as a fundamental universal property. It redefines reality, hinting at "many-worlds" interpretations.

"It's non-deterministic. Not even an omniscient being could know all quantum particle states."

▶ Watch this segment — 22:17

Also mentioned in this video

• Statistical randomness defined, contrasting... (3:20)
• Presenter performs thought experiment asking... (4:27)
• Humans are predictable, cannot generate true randomness. (7:38)
• New thought experiment shows human tendency to... (10:06)
• Chaos & classical unpredictability due to... (21:32)

Summarised from Eze Martínez · 25:49. All credit belongs to the original creators. Streamed.News summarises publicly available video content.