A while ago I watched this youtube video by Kurzgesagt about the idea of reality as we know it being a simulation. The thought process behind the video stayed with me until this day, since I thought it was a really good philosophical topic. Let's discuss:
Do you think technological process will stop anytime soon? Yea... Neither do I. In the last fifty years, we've seen a crazy acceleration when it comes to technology. Computers kept getting smarter, thinner and cheaper to the point where it's almost crazy to think about that we still walked around with walkmans only 25 years ago. The technological revolution has changed the world forever, and we might only be in the early stages of what's possible.
In the last few years there's a lot of interest in quantum-computers and artificial intelligence. only a few years ago, AlphaGo, a computer program designed to beat the most played and strategic game on earth (Go!) managed to win against the world champion in unbelievable fashion: 4-1. Before the match nobody doubted that Lee Sedol would take an easy victory over AlphaGo. After game one though, the whole world was shocked to see how precise and creative the machine was playing. It was unlike anything the Go-community had ever soon. The AlphaGo-team had created software that was able to outsmart the human brain. That's a frightening idea to think about. It was the first sign that artificial intelligence, a brain created by humans, could become smarter and more creative than his designer(s).
So artificial intelligence is powerful, that's for sure. But let's remember the technological development is still in it's early stages. If artificial intelligence has already proven it can be smarter (in some ways) than the human mind, then what's to stop them from taking over the power from their creators? What if, thousands and thousands years ago, we already went through a technological revolution where we lost control over our creations? What if those creations created the ability for themselves to operate autonomous? At that point... everything could be possible.
I do believe that one day AI will become more powerful than the human brain will ever be. And i'm not sure if we are smart enough to "contain" the things we create. So if someone told me somehow, somewhere in our history the AI took over our world and created simulations in which we live now, I couldn't argue with them. I would be able to believe them.
But what if all that is true? What if we live in a simulation of our artificial Gods? I couldn't care less... Simulation or not, I will still try to make the best out of life and... have a good time.
Thanks for reading.