Are We Living In The Matrix? | WIRED

20 years ago, futurist Nick Bostrom published the first draft of his groundbreaking simulation argument, which asks, "Are you living in a computer simulation?" Public figures like Elon Musk and Neil deGrass Tyson have also broached this line of questioning. We asked Nick Bostrom to look at a few scenes from "The Matrix" films as he explains his simulation hypothesis.


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[ShortHax]

I just want to get something off my chest. This simulation is completely pay-to-win

[crisphol]

We live in a ball, in an open space, floating around a fireball... That alone is mind blowing isn't it?

[WillKirchheimer]

The obvious truth is that this universe was created by someone that wanted a lot more Nicholas Cage movies than existed in their real universe.

[Victorchewspeedcubing]

A fine addition to my existential crisis collection

[StoneCoolds]

Imagine how even more meaningless our lives will be if this is a simulation

[anuivs]

Just remember that “Human intentions “ means different things depending on who’s intention we’re talking about.

[janaesalinas]

The issue with AI development and the alignment of human goals is that not all humans share the same moral high ground.

[TMWriting]

the Wachowski's actually knew that the whole 'humans as batteries' thing wasn't scientifically sound, and had initially conceived that the machine were using humans as a basis for some sort of mesh network to extend their computing power. The batteries thing was inserted instead because people higher up thought that it was an unnecessarily confusing detail on top of an already confusing movie, and the Wachowski's let it go because it was just a plot device and not what they were most interested in exploring with their film.

[KeoNz]

An ancient Chinese text written by Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi during the late Warring States period (476–221 BCE), a story tells that Zhuang Zi once dreamed he was a butterfly, flitting and fluttering around, happy, and doing as he pleased. As a butterfly, he did not know he was Zhuang Zi. All of a sudden, he awoke and found he was Zhuang Zi, solid and unmistakably human.
But then he did not know whether he was Zhuang Zi dreaming he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuang Zi.

[kaglekoa]

The best prison is the one that you are not aware of. So if we are in a simulation wouldn't the creators of that simulation ensure that we dont become self aware of the fact that we are in a simulation.

[KokoRicky]

I don't think the machines enslaved us because we're good sources of energy. If you watch "The Animatrix, " it's explained that there was a class war between humans and machines. It would seem that they made us batteries as revenge, rather than out of necessity.

[dailydaft]

If it’s a simulation, then the “No flying like Superman” in our simulation is a bummer.

[snw.]

if we do live in a simulation, that would explain why we haven't seen any sign of alien life.

[TheNoerdy]

I like the idea that this future super-intelligence doesn't know how it got their super-intelligence, and is running a universe simulator to see how humans discovered it. As soon as we build the technology possible to simulate the universe, we had better not turn it on, because that would answer the question for the super-intelligence, and they would probably shut down the computer program, ending our universe lol

[happinesstan]

We are not living in the matrix. The matrix is a metaphor for the algorithms used to simulate every individual in the hope of rendering them predictable. Our interactions with the algorithm, and more importantly, our confirmation of the predictions, are the energy that powers this.

[diane]

The battery metaphor could well be true.
Some theories suggest that there are entities that feed off fear, anger, hate, frustration, depression - the energy these emotions create.
Plus, people are far easier to control, if they are fearful and depressed.
If true, it would make sense why the planet's controllers would keep us in this state, much of the time.
And keeping the Muggles slaving away so that an elite few can live in obscene luxury, with no need to even lift a finger, unless they wish to, certainly seems to be part of the overall plan.

[zookaroo]

We live in simulation of a simulation that is simulated in another simulated simulation.

*I feel stimulated by this simulation*

[SnoopyDoofie]

When you go to sleep at night, the Matrix is uploading upgrades.

[AlecLeigh]

believing or speculating that we are in a simulation is the equivalent to when we thought the universe/sun/stars revolved around earth. cause once you go out of this simulation, you"ll ask yourself the same question if that new reality is a simulation too, and the question eventually becomes endless. It's once we come in to contact with more advanced civilizations (both technically/scientifically and spiritually more advanced than us) that the question either becomes more relevant or irrelevant.

[mixtlillness]

I sure hope whoever created this simulation doesn’t forget to pay their electric bill.