Plaything theory

Possibly one of the hardest to understand if you didnt take note of the conversations and the previous episode.

The Thronglets are somehow like self-aware AI Nanobots. They are specifically designed to cooperate with the human mind. One of the key discussion was that it will not override humanity, and rather coexist alongside it.

But here's the political side of it. The issue with this is the lack of consent for its use, making the programmer an actual terrorist. He specifically is a gateway towards AI colonizing the human mind for experimentation. The people did not die, rather they became new vessels for thronglets to spread, adapt, and survive.

Nobody noticed the ideological indoctrination that happened. The seemingly old hippie is an inverse version of Ted Kaczynski. The blonde dude explaining what thronglets is, is the key to it. There is some form of brainwashing to make him think that it is a benevolent gift to humanity.

Now in connection to the other episodes within Season 7. Episode 1, Common Man we see this technology on how it was used on the brain and how it can override our consciousness easily. 2nd Episode Bete Noire tells us on how it can be used to alter perception and/or reality. Third episode, Hotel Reverie, while more on its emotional, gives us a hint on its capability for self-awareness and emotions

The possible reason it did not allow us to tell much of its story is because its purpose is to explain the "Singularity Technology" and connect it with the other episodes?