Probability and consequences of living inside a computer simulation

08/21/2020

∙

by   Alexandre Bibeau-Delisle, et al.

∙

0

∙

share

It is shown that under reasonable assumptions a Drake-style equation can be obtained for the probability that our universe is the result of a deliberate simulation. Evaluating loose bounds for certain terms in the equation shows that the probability is unlikely to be as high as previously reported in the literature, especially in a scenario where the simulations are recursive. Furthermore, we investigate the possibility of eavesdropping from the outside of such a simulation and introduce a general attack that can circumvent attempts at quantum cryptography inside the simulation, even if the quantum properties of the simulation are genuine.