The Creator Behind the Code: Simulation Theory, Virtual Ethics and AI

Introduction:

In the distant future, a new video game will be created. In an effort to create the most immersive world possible no expense has been spared. The physics of the game are perfect, graphics like you wouldn't believe, and characters within this world have been created to be as real as possible. Their simulated little bodies come from generations of simulations. Where their species evolved, much like our own, and they have a rich cultural backstory because of this. They have religion, they have simulated brains, thoughts and feelings. When you purchase this game you can interact with it as a sort of extra dimensional being, similar to how God or angels are thought to interact with our world. What do you owe them in how you behave? 

*photo is AI generated, seemed fitting*

Discussion:

Video games are showing a trend towards players wanting real impacts over the virtual world they are playing in. Like how your choices in Fallout 4 change the wasteland. Better yet, like Fable 3 where you get to become king and are faced with decision making impacting the world. What makes these games so effective in making those choices feel as though they matter? I believe it's NPC's that feel real, that you can bond with, and interact with. They often have rich backstories carefully written and they have a life going on in their world. This I believe outlines the reason a game developer would want to program AI characters into their game, to make conversations never dry up and allow players to bond with those in the world. The more complex the characters are the better it would be for sales and experience. If given a magic wand, or hundreds of years of development, I think they could eventually create beings that are conscious. Similar to how we evolved, they were created through evolution. This distance from their original creation would allow them to feel real. They would have grandparents, history and culture. They could find evidence of fossils and piece together their backstory. They would have no idea that one day, an 11 year old with anger issues could purchase their world to play with. Think tiny verse from Rick and Morty, except the purpose of their creation to be entertainment, not a car battery.

Now to these AI characters their purpose is entertainment of an extradimensional being. Though they do not know this. The reality that they are created in was paid for by those who want influence over their world and entertainment in the results. They may believe their lives have a different purpose, like their job or family. But at the end of the day this was all curated to give the purchaser of the game more characters to interact with. This means that the player could take all things precious to an AI just because he annoys him. Maybe one character who asks if you've been to the cloud district a little to often. This character is ruining your enjoyment of the game. A game you paid for, your money funding his universe's creation. Would it not be better to do away with him so you can continue enjoying your time? Or do you owe this character some sort of divine grace? You are fully powerful over his simulated little life. You can take away, or you could bless him in ways beyond comprehension for his species.

Does believing they are real, make them real? Simulation theory would say we too have been created as a part of a massive computer simulation. The reasons why they think this is the case is very interesting, Futurama does a take on this. But the take away being, if we have a creator how would we want them to act? The Christian God promises the heavens, offering salvation.. That all sounds pretty good. This would not be outside of a computer programmer's ability to code either. A lot of video games, when a character is killed, are moved into a restricted part of the map. Why not make that room something like heaven? The question being, what is the benefit to the creator in doing so? And to what purpose has our universe been created? Are we a video game awaiting sale, millions of times over? Or is it something else beyond our comprehension? Speculating into the why would give us a window into what is to come. It may give us answers into the after life and what is real. 

Conclusion:

By my deduction above, those who believe in simulation theory should become a lot more religious. The thought that our universe could be created by a being outside our realm of understanding may not align with the naturalist minds of those who ponder. I think the question would become, what kind of creator do we have? It would be interesting to see how this would shift arguments used to dispute God's existence. Such as biblical contradictions and the unnecessary suffering of animals. Maybe the question isn't “does God exist” but “what kind of God do we have”.