Perfect Information Architecture?

Years ago, a I read a blog post by Jeff Atwood reflecting on creating a login, there he introduced me to a concept that has stuck in my head since. Randy Pausch — yes, the Last Lecture Randy Pausch — taught him to imagine how God would solve a computer science problem:

What’s the God algorithm for this?

So, when I think about the future of anything technology, this is one question I ask myself. How would God solve Voice UI? He would just know exactly what you meant and instantly give the response you want, no menus or steps or clarifications or confirmations. Exactly right, the first time, every time. Obviously we are not God, but thinking about the perfect possible solution can help you get closer to it, a tiny bit at time.

Information Architecture can also be thought of with the God solution. The basic question is how we get the right information to the user in the simplest way. God just skips all that Architecture shenanigans and gets right to the solution: give the user what they want. God instantly knows the answer and delivers it in the best possible form to you, whatever that is for each user. As Elon Musk has said:

The best part is no part.

Paraphrased: The best IA is no (or less) IA. Could we get there one day? Probably not, but can we get closer then where we are now? I’ll leave that as an exercise to you dear reader.