Ask HN: Speculative Execution and Wave Function Collapse in a Simulated Reality

4 points

5 years ago

Assuming that we live in an ancestor simulation[0] (yes, a big assumption) and the probabilistic nature of quantum theory within our reality, might wave function collapse[1] be a sign that we are, in fact, living in a simulation?

Given the statistical ambiguities inherent in quantum events, could the probabilistic nature of those events (cf. Feynman's path integral[3]) indicate the presence of speculative execution[2] on the part of computing core(s) running such a simulation?

Obviously, this is highly speculative and would be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to prove, but it's an interesting question worthy (IMHO) of discussion.

Any thoughts? Other ideas? Well reasoned rejections of such a hypothesis?

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulated_reality

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_function_collapse

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculative_execution

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_integral_formulation

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