We are Living in a Computer Simulation
We have long been fascinated by the idea that the world as it appears to us is not the ultimate reality. Computer-based virtual reality makes the idea that we could be living in a simulation more than just a theoretical event; some very smart people even think that this is not only possible but likely, very likely.
In 2003, the Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom argued that if such a simulation were created at any point in the universe’s history, then we are almost certainly in one now.
Elon Musk says that the chances we are not puppets in a virtual world are billions to one against. It’s easy to laugh this off, but life is similar to a complex videogame…and look at the evolution of videogames in the last decades:


Now think about the following:
- Everything slows down at rush hour because we live in a simulation and it can’t handle the number of objects on-screen
- When processing power is low we have foggy days limiting draw distance
- It is very hard to get out of bed in the morning because you are trying to load new content
- This is why we have day/night cycles on half the planet at a time. The simulation can’t render full-planet daytime raytracing and draw distance, nor handle the ping of every person being awake at once
- There is math behind traffic jams, it is an intentional algorithm the aliens implemented to deal with too many objects at the same time
- Time slows down when everyone’s rushing around, too much processing power needed
- Gravity makes the universe easier to simulate, particles tend to concentrate, which reduces the volume of simulation.
Does life feel less real now? :)
