The Simulation Hypothesis

An MIT Computer Scientist Shows Why AI, Quantum Physics, and Eastern Mystics All Agree We Are in a Video Game (Simulation Hypothesis)

De: Rizwan Virk

Narrado por: Ray Greenely, Rizwan Virk

The definitive exploration of one of the most daring and consequential theories of our time, completely revised and updated to reflect the rapid advances in artificial intelligence and virtual reality

Are we living in a simulation? MIT computer scientist Rizwan Virk draws from research and concepts from computer science, artificial intelligence, video games, quantum physics, and ancient mystics to explain why we may be living inside a simulated reality like the Matrix.

Simulation theory explains some of the biggest mysteries of quantum and relativistic physics, such as quantum indeterminacy, parallel universes, and the integral nature of the speed of light, using information and computation.

Virk shows how the evolution of our video games, including virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, will lead us to a technological singularity. We will reach the simulation point, where we can develop all-encompassing virtual worlds like the OASIS in Ready Player One or The Matrix—and in fact we are already likely inside such a simulation.

While the idea sounds like science fiction, many scientists, engineers, and professors have given the simulation hypothesis serious consideration, including Elon Musk, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Nick Bostrom. But the simulation hypothesis is not just a modern idea. Philosophers of all traditions have long contended that we are living in some kind of “illusion” and that there are other realities that we can access with our minds.

The Simulation Hypothesis is the definitive book on simulation theory and is now completely updated to reflect the latest developments in artificial intelligence and virtual reality.

Whether you are a computer scientist, a fan of science fiction like the Matrix movies, a video game enthusiast, a spiritual seeker, or simply a fan of mind-bending thought experiments, you will never look at the world the same way again.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Rizwan Virk (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Very well laid out

Interesting, well put together book. Terrible narrating if you want to be engaged. Great narrating if you want it for white noise. It sounded like the human version of college text book. I wish the author read this one. I almost turned it off several times.

Balances his viewpoints.

Another please! More, that’s all I can say. Job well done. Thank you for the appendix as well.

A basic overview of random things, like 3d printers

Most of the book has nothing to do with the title. It’s extremely basic information before he moves on to the next random thing, and worst of all half of it is wrong. He has no depth of knowledge that’s worth listening to, and when he finally decides to talk about why he believes the simulation hypothesis, he cites ridiculous and misguided “statistics” (if you can call it that). Extremely disappointing, as this was on my wishlist for months. I came out not knowing any more about anything than when I went in.

Hasn't Aged Well

I didn't get too far into this, but found that it repeated itself a lot and constantly referenced Elon Musk as an expert that believes we are in a simulation. Elon Musk has revealed himself to be far from a genius and has no expertise in the field. I believe that this is what's known as an Appeal to Authority fallacy. "A rich guy believes it, so it must be true."