Seth Lloyd on the Universe as a Quantum Computer

Dr. Seth Lloyd, a self-described "quantum mechanic" and professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, says the universe itself is a giant quantum computer — computing itself. Interview recorded in November 2010 at the Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo.

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[OutOfTheBoxThinker]

@JohananRaatz : The only problem here is that non-computability is a mere assumption based on the current inability of humans to compute certain concepts. For example, the whole notion of wave function collapse is based on the inability to make certain predictions and to conclude non-computability from wave function collapse is pure circular logic. The tendency towards circular logic and speculation is in fact a major problem with theoretical physics in general.

[ncoloss]

Let's face it. The puzzle fits together.
Nothing is real until observed. It's just a set of functions awaiting computation when observations are made including all of the back calculations. Time and space irrelevant. It's highly efficient for a computer.
Entangled particles are just two projections of the same piece of information held in a type of memory location.
The speed of light relates to the clock speed and in effect determines the max rate at which information can change.

[andrewwells]

The flaw in what I previously said was that I was assuming a regular computer, what S. Lloyd was talking about was a quantum computer. The problem doesn’t arise with Quantum computers, but thanks.

[andrewwells]

Think about this: a computer that incorporates the universe would have to be huge! But what if it's not exactly a computer but a Panentheistc mind that bahaves like a computer? In that case the universe would be made of thoughts stuff, string theory now suggests that the universe is made of quantum info and (Penrose's Orch-OR) suggests the same of thoughts. So what do you guys think?

[saintorion]

He Said The Universe = A Quantum Computer & They’re Quantum Computer’s HiJack The Universe’s Quantum Computation. WOW.

[Satarack]

*Continued*

A good illustration of this is trying to pay off a debt with an infinite amount of credit cards.

Suppose you are 1000 dollars in debt, and you pay it off using a credit card. You are still 1000 dollars in debt, except now the debt has been transferred to your credit card. Now suppose we pay that credit card off with another, and then another, and then another etc. No matter how many times you transfer the debt, you will still be 1000 dollars in debt.

[jerrydecaire]

So the universe thinks. And why not? We, as products of the universe, think. Image of God in man?