I finally understand why Musk is convinced we live in a "simulated world"
Elon Musk: The odds that we're living in base reality is one in billions.
Neil deGrasse Tyson (Renowned American Astrophysicist): I wish I could find a strong argument against it (the simulation hypothesis), but I can't find one.
I am an investor, an entrepreneur. I believe in code, logic, and verifiable data. This kind of science-fiction speculation, in my view, is nothing more than a billionaire's after-dinner pastime.
But what truly started to shake my conviction wasn't Musk, nor physics, but two "metaphysical" little incidents that happened to me personally.
The First Incident: About a Bazi Fortune Teller
I have a Bazi (Eight Characters) fortune teller I've worked with for years. Before investing in any new project, I always have him do a reading. I'm not superstitious; I just treat it as an alternative form of "risk assessment."
But the absurd part is, the outcomes he predicts and my final investment returns have an alarmingly high overlap. He can even accurately point out what kind of "hurdle" the project will encounter at which stage.
At first, I thought it was coincidence. But when this "coincidence" repeated over a dozen times, I had to admit: there must be some logic behind this that I don't understand.
The Second Incident: About My Tarot Reader Best Friend
I have a best friend who is exceptional in every way—family background, education, all impeccable. A few years ago, she suddenly announced she was going to learn Tarot.
I thought she had lost her mind. But because we're so close, I didn't have the heart to say it.
Later, I started asking her questions just for fun. The results were incredibly, incredibly accurate.
I started to get skeptical. I had her read in different ways: laying out cards in person, shuffling on a phone app, even repeating the same question. The core information that emerged each time was startlingly consistent.
I was completely baffled. I asked her: "What exactly is the principle behind Tarot?"
She gave me an explanation that sent chills down my spine:
"You can think of this world as a massive database. Tarot readers are like programmers; their abilities differ, and so does their 'database access level.' The higher the ability, the more comprehensive and accurate the data they can retrieve. Tarot cards are just the tool we use to query this database."
"Database access level"... that phrase struck me like lightning.
I suddenly remembered Musk's words. I began to re-examine the world from the most fundamental perspective of a programmer.
Then, I discovered more and more "coincidences," so many that I couldn't refute them.
Coincidence One: "Junk Code" in DNA
Our DNA is like an extremely complex piece of code. But strangely, about 98% of its sequences are "junk DNA" that doesn't code for proteins.
Why is there so much "useless" code?
If you view the world as a program, it becomes easy to explain:
- That's legacy code from an old version.
- Those are commented-out but not deleted functional modules.
- That's redundant data left over after a system upgrade.
Just like old files on your computer—you don't use them, but you can't be bothered to delete them.
Coincidence Two: The "Version Update" Around the Great Flood
Why do ancient civilizations all over the world share a common memory of a "Great Flood"? China has Nüwa mending the heavens, the West has Noah's Ark.
Why, in these myths, did humans before the flood have astonishingly long lifespans (often eight or nine hundred years), while after the flood, lifespans plummeted?
Doesn't this resemble a server "wipe and restart"?
- Great Flood = System Reset
- Pre-flood Longevity = Parameter settings of the old version
- Post-flood Lifespan Reduction = Parameter adjustment in the new version (perhaps to limit player capabilities)
Coincidence Three: The Universe's "Performance Limits"
⭕️The Big Bang: Not a singularity, but the system booting up (UNIVERSE.EXE LOADING...)
⭕️Speed of Light: Not a physical limit, but the CPU clock speed ceiling
⭕️Déjà Vu: Not a memory glitch, but a cache error
When I connected these clues, I reached a conclusion that chilled me to the bone:
If you think about the world we live in from a "simulated" perspective, then everything suddenly makes perfect sense.
So, if this is true, what should we do? Just give up?
This conclusion initially made me feel deeply nihilistic. If everything is code, what's the point of our efforts?
But metaphysics gave me another answer: You can change your destiny.
Yes, this world might be a simulation, but all your feelings—love, joy, pain, a sense of accomplishment—are absolutely real.
Your fate, like a game character's default settings, determines your upper limit. For instance, I might never become the world's richest person in this lifetime.
But, I can strive to live up to my own limit within my own version.
I can wholeheartedly experience all the beauty this world offers, feel every heartbeat, and create my own value.
Because, experience is the only real thing in this game.
Conclusion: From "Player" to "Advanced Player"
Writing this, I finally understand Musk's certainty. He's not playing with philosophy; he's using first principles to think about the truth of our existence.
The simulation hypothesis is not pessimistic. On the contrary, it grants us unprecedented freedom.
Our generation is at a great inflection point, transitioning from passive "players" to active "advanced players." We hold two keys: Web3 and AI. For the first time, we have the opportunity to explore, and even modify, the rules of this "simulated world."
And that is far more important than figuring out whether the world is real or not.
So, stop laughing. The next time you encounter an unexplainable "coincidence," just think:
What kind of role do you want to play in this game?
