The Matrix trilogy attempted to explain the various possibilities of a simulated reality used to control humans. Here is an interesting interpretation of exactly what was required for a successful simulation. Where the first type of simulation failed because it was too perfect, the second failed because it tried to follow actual history completely and was too deterministic. The divergence between human will and the action that would follow caused a breaking up of causality, and the simulation would fail. In order to deal with those who would resist the determinism, the simulation would actually allow individuals to be freed from the machines. In other words, the rebellion portrayed in the films was actually a method of containment by the machines to prevent a major disruption of the overall simulation.