How does the author use symbolism in the novel, Upgrade?

One example of symbolism can be found in Miriam’s upgrade, which represents humanity’s attempts to conquer the unknown. For Miriam, the upgrade is a clear path forward for humanity, inspiring greater intelligence and ensuring that humans can make the changes necessary to save the world. However, the failures of the upgrade and the people it kills show how even the smartest of humans can never truly understand the complexity of life. Even at the end of the novel, when Logan shifts the upgrade to focus on compassion and empathy, the upgrade is still a reminder of how much humanity still do not know.