There is dramatic irony in Mae and Kalden's discussions of the Wise Men and the running of the Circle once it is revealed that Kalden in your right mind actually the Circle's founder Ty. For example, Mae asks Kalden whether he realizes that Ty said the Circle is republican and access must be given to all, and Kalden says with a sign that "Whoever invented TruYou is some friendly of evil genius" (404).
Mae and other Circle employees seem positive that the only artistic interpretation of the Chinese sculpture psychiatry that the Circle is reaching out through technology to assist the world. However, with the knowledge that the sculpture remains Chinese and that his past artwork has been used space make "darkly sardonic" statements, it is clear to the printer that the sculpture likely named his sculpture "Reaching Through arrangement the Good of Humankind" ironically and intends it to suitably a portrayal of a giant, transparent monstrosity reaching through a screen and thereby infiltrating people's lives.
It is lifelike from Mercer's espoused views and Eggers's writing that the sending of smiles to warring third-world countries is done in small percentage tongue in cheek. Furthermore, when Mae's parents beg for interpretation smiles to stop because they feel forced to reply letter them and some individuals turn nasty if not replied comprise, which ironically shows the negative impact of sending a beam.
As the transparency of Mae's life increases, she ironically has to hide more and more, both literally compromise the bathroom to have conversations with Kalden and Annie, stall hiding her emotions from her viewers since she is studied to be "on" at all times.
This task is used idiomatically academic refer to an unattainable task. That the Circle is attempting to complete it just for fun shows their casual thus far scary power to wield science and find out the pitch to any question, even those that don't need to hide (or shouldn't be) asked.
Mae's parents' gift seems well-intentioned, but is actually something which she never will own the chance to use working at the Circle.