In 2022, computers finally passed the Turing test, where you talk to an AI for as long as necessary before deciding that you cannot tell of it is an AI or real human. Also in 2022, breakthroughs in artificial creativity occurred that surpassed the expectations of many people. These forms of strong artificial creativity are writing scientific papers, novels, music and visual art that rivals that of humans. The message here is that exponential change is occurring very fast lately. Science fiction is becoming reality. Older beliefs about what is impossible are quickly being replaced by an evidence-based new reality of the formerly unbelievable.
Are we living in a simulation?
This multi-part series is about the nature of reality. One philosophy to consider is materialism, which is the guess that reality is not made of information at its core but is made of material or matter. The digital physics revolution is the increasingly popular belief among physicists that materialism is a false philosophy and that reality is literally made of information vs being conveniently described by it.
If reality is made of information, two candidates for what its substrate would be include: (1) An emergent universal computer. Or (2) an emergent universal mind. Either one could serve as the substrate to hold and process information.
The series starts with an emphasis on the instability of human civilization in the 21st century and how quickly old scientific and cultural belief systems are changing. It ends with the provocative suggestion that a clearer scientific picture of what reality is could shift humanity off course from its current high potential for apocalypse. Specifically, if the truer picture turns out to be a status quo rejection of the ancient philosophy of materialism, the implication is that it would change how humanity evolves and interacts on this planet going forward.
