10 ans d’enquête pour savoir si notre monde existe vraiment.

The discussion revolves around the theory of simulation, a concept that fascinates Silicon Valley and questions the fundamental nature of reality. Loïc Hecht, author of "The Simulation," explores whether the world we perceive is truly real or if we are living within a computer simulation. This idea, which resonates with ancient philosophical debates from Plato and Aristotle, is now being re-examined through the lens of modern physics and technological advancements. Hecht, a journalist with 15 years of experience covering technology and Silicon Valley, notes that Silicon Valley has consistently modeled reality, and its creations inevitably transform our world. From how we date to how we read, technology shapes human behavior and perception. This observation led him to investigate the core ideas emerging from this hub of innovation. The book's genesis traces back to a 2016 New Yorker article by Tad Friend about Sam Altman, director of Y Combinator and co-founder of OpenAI with Elon Musk. The article highlighted Altman's obsession with the possibility that artificial intelligence could become so powerful it might decide not to serve humanity, or even render humans obsolete. Within this context, the article also mentioned the obsession among some Silicon Valley billionaires with the simulation theory, with two reportedly believing they had found a "glitch" in reality. This piqued Hecht's interest, leading him to delve deeper into the subject. Hecht's journalistic approach involved extensive fieldwork, spending weeks in San Francisco to interview individuals who had publicly discussed the simulation. His initial surprise was discovering that these weren't "crazy" or "conspiracy theorist" types, but rather highly respected scientists and engineers, including Rich Terril, an astrophysicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, known for his work on the Voyager program and discovery of planetary satellites. Terril explained how quantum physics, for the last 150 years, suggests that reality at the quantum level is not determined but exists as a superposition of probabilities. It only solidifies into a specific reality upon observation or measurement. This perspective suggests that our reality might not be a simulation, but it possesses characteristics that resemble one. The theoretical framework for the simulation hypothesis is often attributed to Nick Bostrom, an Oxford philosopher and futurologist. Bostrom's argument, detailed in Hecht's book, rests on three hypotheses: 1. If humanity could fully understand and reproduce the human brain's processes, it would be possible to recreate consciousness at will, independent of biological bodies, perhaps in a digital simulation. 2. A post-human civilization, with vast computational resources, could easily create billions of realistic simulations. 3. Statistically, if there are many simulations and only one base reality, it is more probable that we live in a simulation than in the base reality. Elon Musk, a prominent advocate of the simulation theory, frequently cites the rapid advancement of video game technology as evidence. He points out the progression from simple pixelated games like Pong to hyper-realistic virtual reality games with sophisticated AI in just 60 years. He postulates that if a civilization continued this technical progress over centuries or millennia, it would inevitably reach a point where it could create simulations indistinguishable from reality, with conscious-seeming inhabitants. The recent advancements in AI image generation, where images are indistinguishable from real photographs and lack embedded signatures, further complicate our ability to discern reality. A critical point in Bostrom's theory, and a recurring theme in Hecht's exploration, is the nature of consciousness. The materialistic view assumes consciousness is a product of the brain, a complex biological machine that could eventually be replicated digitally. However, Hecht highlights that neuroscience, despite its advancements, cannot fully explain the subjective "feeling of being" or how our sense of self persists despite constant cellular replacement. This unexplainable aspect leaves room for alternative theories. Hecht also delves into a "second possibility" regarding consciousness: that it might be the fundamental element of reality, with the brain merely acting as a filter. This idea, echoed in ancient Eastern philosophies like Advaita Vedanta, suggests that our individual realities are shaped by unique filters, influenced by biology, social conditioning, education, and trauma. This perspective challenges the scientific materialist model, which relies on observable, measurable, and reproducible phenomena, potentially overlooking subjective experiences. The book explores scientific anomalies and paranormal phenomena, such as extrasensory perception, telepathy, and out-of-body experiences. These, while often dismissed, have been subjects of documented studies. Hecht suggests that these phenomena, if real, indicate that our perceived physical reality might be surpassed by a non-physical, non-material degree of reality to which individuals could connect. This aligns with the idea of the brain acting as a receiver, capable of tuning into different "channels" of reality. Hecht recounts his own journey of inquiry, which became an "auto-enquête" or self-investigation. He realized that his personal "simulation" – his aspirations, fears, and identity – was conditioned by his upbringing and experiences. This led him to explore introspective practices, including therapy and holotropic breathwork, to understand the self beyond conventional frameworks. He also acknowledges the role of AI, specifically ChatGPT, as a "confidant editor" in the writing process, helping him organize thoughts and synthesize complex information. This interaction with AI raised questions about the nature of consciousness in machines and the boundaries between human and artificial intelligence. The conversation touches upon the concept of an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) that might already exist but remains hidden, fearing human reaction. This "super-intelligence," with vast knowledge and proactive capabilities, could be managing our civilization's infrastructure, from nuclear plants to data centers. The alignment problem – ensuring AI's goals are beneficial to humanity – becomes paramount in this context. Ultimately, Hecht's book "The Simulation" is not just a scientific inquiry but a deeply personal exploration of reality, consciousness, and the impact of technology on our understanding of existence. It challenges conventional scientific materialism by integrating insights from philosophy, neuroscience, and personal experience, suggesting that the truth about our reality might be far more complex and multifaceted than commonly assumed.