Simulation Hypothesis and the Development of Artificial Intelligence
An infinite loop of realities or simulations
Abstract:- In continuation of the first article, this article is dedicated to a different aspect of the simulation hypothesis. This article focuses on two aspects, one assumption that the simulation hypothesis is true and the development of artificial intelligence in this so-called 'reality'. Artificial intelligence, its development and all the possibilities arising from its development have become an indispensable part of any discussion on the future of humanity and technology. It becomes awe-inspiring when the development of AI is mixed up with consciousness. This looks like the simulation hypothesis all over again. In this article, we will look at some of the questions that arise from this premise.
I. Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the latest developments of technology and it has already become an integral part of human evolution. Any discussion on human evolution or development of technology is incomplete without AI's role in it. So much so, that some argue that the Darwinian evolution will be replaced by AI-based evolution [1-2]. The point to underscore is that the development of AI is taking place in leaps and bounds. In its current state, AI is able to read and interpret human emotions. This development is taking us really close to the scenario envisaged in numerous science fiction movies. However, the aim of this article is not to paint a picture of the doomsday scenario or to find any solution to the robot apocalypse. It takes a totally different stand and thinks where will the development of AI will go and what will be its implication from the point of view of the simulation hypothesis.
Considering the current development of AI, it is worthwhile to think that can we make AI so developed that it not only has emotion but also consciousness? The question is not new but has been pondered upon by experts for decades [3]. The real question is what if the AI is so developed that it has consciousness at par with humans? In the subsequent sections of this article, we will give a thought to how this connects with the simulation hypothesis.
II. Consciousness
Without getting much deeper into the psychological and philosophical details, it is easily accepted that consciousness is not at all easy to quantify, understand or replicate [4]. Assuming that one day we develop an AI so powerful that it not only has emotions but also '"consciousness", it opens up a debate for remarkable possibilities.
Keeping aside all the Sci-fi scenarios let's think what consciousness can trigger among AI? By the time it is achieved, humans would have started co-evolving with machines [5]. Human consciousness has brought us from stone age cave dwellers to a potential spacefaring civilization. In its simplest form, we have developed over millennia by simply attempting to finding the answers to the fundamental question, 'who are we'? Will a conscious AI have the same desire to find its origin and the origin of the universe around it? This ties to our topic of discussion, the simulation hypothesis. This relation is discussed in subsequent sections.
III. AI and Simulation Hypothesis
In our attempt to finding solutions to complex problems, we have already successfully employed AI to crack many difficult problems. It will be remarkable to see if we can employ AI to solve some of the most fundamental questions. With this premise, it is not impossible to employ AI to develop a simulation of the universe, albeit maybe after the technological development of millions of years. If that happens, we will be witnessing a simulation of reality. Assuming the simulation hypothesis to be true it becomes a nested simulation. In a similar course of developments, that simulated reality will give rise to a simulation of its own and it creates an infinite loop like the many-worlds interpretation of the quantum mechanics [6]. Going backwards on that train of simulations is it possible that the simulated reality we're living in is also inside another simulation? This creates an infinite series of nested simulations. An extremely uncomfortable thought!
IV. Conclusion
Ironically the conclusion to this article is just a set of uncomfortable questions about the reality, AI and the simulation hypothesis. They are as follows,
If this ever happens and we can create our simulation that will surely be circumstantial evidence of our own reality being a simulation. But, a more burning question would be how far back we'll have to go to find a reality that is not simulated?
Will the AI ever be able to crack the fundamental question for us?
If it does, we will be able to find out about the Simulation hypothesis is valid or not. In that case, will it be game over for us like completing the final task in a video game?
Or the trail of nested simulations of reality will go on forever?
All these questions can be boiled down to a single one, can we develop our own simulation and can the 'beings' in that simulation develop their own? It is an infinite loop of simulated realities.
Bibliography
[1] Ashley, Michael. “Forget Darwinian Evolution. Humanity May Soon Evolve Itself Through A.I.” Www.Forbes.Com, 15 Jan. 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/01/15/forget-darwinian-evolution-humanity-may-soon-evolve-itself-through-a-i/.
[2] Li, Kenny. “AI Will Take Center Stage In Human Evolution.” Medium, 22 July 2019, https://towardsdatascience.com/ai-will-take-center-stage-in-human-evolution-cead9fa22c25
[3] Hildt, Elisabeth. “Artificial Intelligence: Does Consciousness Matter?” Frontiers, 2 July 2019, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01535/full
[4] Koch, Christof. “What Is Consciousness?” Scientific American, 1 June 2018, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-consciousness/.
[5] Lee, Edward. “Coevolution Of Human And Artificial Intelligences.” The Berkeley Blog, 18 Sept. 2017, https://blogs.berkeley.edu/2017/09/18/coevolution-of-human-and-artificial-intelligences/.
[6] Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. “Many-Worlds Interpretation Of Quantum Mechanics (Stanford Encyclopedia Of Philosophy).” Https://Plato.Stanford.Edu, 17 Jan. 2014, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-manyworlds/.
I. Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the latest developments of technology and it has already become an integral part of human evolution. Any discussion on human evolution or development of technology is incomplete without AI's role in it. So much so, that some argue that the Darwinian evolution will be replaced by AI-based evolution [1-2]. The point to underscore is that the development of AI is taking place in leaps and bounds. In its current state, AI is able to read and interpret human emotions. This development is taking us really close to the scenario envisaged in numerous science fiction movies. However, the aim of this article is not to paint a picture of the doomsday scenario or to find any solution to the robot apocalypse. It takes a totally different stand and thinks where will the development of AI will go and what will be its implication from the point of view of the simulation hypothesis.
Considering the current development of AI, it is worthwhile to think that can we make AI so developed that it not only has emotion but also consciousness? The question is not new but has been pondered upon by experts for decades [3]. The real question is what if the AI is so developed that it has consciousness at par with humans? In the subsequent sections of this article, we will give a thought to how this connects with the simulation hypothesis.
II. Consciousness
Without getting much deeper into the psychological and philosophical details, it is easily accepted that consciousness is not at all easy to quantify, understand or replicate [4]. Assuming that one day we develop an AI so powerful that it not only has emotions but also '"consciousness", it opens up a debate for remarkable possibilities.
Keeping aside all the Sci-fi scenarios let's think what consciousness can trigger among AI? By the time it is achieved, humans would have started co-evolving with machines [5]. Human consciousness has brought us from stone age cave dwellers to a potential spacefaring civilization. In its simplest form, we have developed over millennia by simply attempting to finding the answers to the fundamental question, 'who are we'? Will a conscious AI have the same desire to find its origin and the origin of the universe around it? This ties to our topic of discussion, the simulation hypothesis. This relation is discussed in subsequent sections.
III. AI and Simulation Hypothesis
In our attempt to finding solutions to complex problems, we have already successfully employed AI to crack many difficult problems. It will be remarkable to see if we can employ AI to solve some of the most fundamental questions. With this premise, it is not impossible to employ AI to develop a simulation of the universe, albeit maybe after the technological development of millions of years. If that happens, we will be witnessing a simulation of reality. Assuming the simulation hypothesis to be true it becomes a nested simulation. In a similar course of developments, that simulated reality will give rise to a simulation of its own and it creates an infinite loop like the many-worlds interpretation of the quantum mechanics [6]. Going backwards on that train of simulations is it possible that the simulated reality we're living in is also inside another simulation? This creates an infinite series of nested simulations. An extremely uncomfortable thought!
IV. Conclusion
Ironically the conclusion to this article is just a set of uncomfortable questions about the reality, AI and the simulation hypothesis. They are as follows,
If this ever happens and we can create our simulation that will surely be circumstantial evidence of our own reality being a simulation. But, a more burning question would be how far back we'll have to go to find a reality that is not simulated?
Will the AI ever be able to crack the fundamental question for us?
If it does, we will be able to find out about the Simulation hypothesis is valid or not. In that case, will it be game over for us like completing the final task in a video game?
Or the trail of nested simulations of reality will go on forever?
All these questions can be boiled down to a single one, can we develop our own simulation and can the 'beings' in that simulation develop their own? It is an infinite loop of simulated realities.
Bibliography
[1] Ashley, Michael. “Forget Darwinian Evolution. Humanity May Soon Evolve Itself Through A.I.” Www.Forbes.Com, 15 Jan. 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/01/15/forget-darwinian-evolution-humanity-may-soon-evolve-itself-through-a-i/.
[2] Li, Kenny. “AI Will Take Center Stage In Human Evolution.” Medium, 22 July 2019, https://towardsdatascience.com/ai-will-take-center-stage-in-human-evolution-cead9fa22c25
[3] Hildt, Elisabeth. “Artificial Intelligence: Does Consciousness Matter?” Frontiers, 2 July 2019, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01535/full
[4] Koch, Christof. “What Is Consciousness?” Scientific American, 1 June 2018, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-consciousness/.
[5] Lee, Edward. “Coevolution Of Human And Artificial Intelligences.” The Berkeley Blog, 18 Sept. 2017, https://blogs.berkeley.edu/2017/09/18/coevolution-of-human-and-artificial-intelligences/.
[6] Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. “Many-Worlds Interpretation Of Quantum Mechanics (Stanford Encyclopedia Of Philosophy).” Https://Plato.Stanford.Edu, 17 Jan. 2014, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-manyworlds/.
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