Anything you could desire and simulations

[excreationist]

I think just about anything you could desire could be simulated or approximated in simulations in the future (or far future) assuming you had control over the simulation...

e.g.
Say you wanted to go to Heaven for an eternity - this would require boredom to be eliminated and eternity could be approximated as being a million years and it might only take one year to simulate that (if physics was approximated a lot). I think this would require the brain to be simulated and tweaked (to stop boredom, etc, and to speed up perceived time).

Other things:

Time travel

Time loops

Completely end your consciousness

Reincarnation (where your previous memories are temporarily wiped)

Any magic

Hidden worlds like Narnia and those in Harry Potter

Simulate that any particular religion is the Truth including its afterlife

Though these things generally can’t be done in our current world (perhaps to make it more immersive and challenging)

Note that simulations that are indistinguishable from reality are approaching us quite rapidly - e.g. Sora from OpenAI which is text-to-video:

https://openai.com/index/sora

In the near future there will be realtime interactive AI generated video that can be navigated in and it could have speech input.

Alan Watts talks about this god-like power in a thought experiment

1.2.3. - Mythology of Hinduism - Pt. 1

I wonder, I wonder, what you would do if you had the power to dream at night, any dream you wanted to dream. And you would of course be able to alter your time-sense and slip, say seventy-five years of subjective time into eight hours of sleep. You would, I suppose, start out by []

web.archive.org

where you "start out by fulfilling all your wishes" - though he assumes the person doesn't have sadistic fantasies. Then you go on challenging adventures. And eventually you might lead ordinary lives where you forget your original identity like in the Roy game:

Though this says "Fantasies are like any other Distraction – they are to be used sparingly and for nothing other than pure enjoyment"

Life Is a Video Game—Here Are the Cheat Codes

Welcome, Player One, to a strategy guide for the game known as Life.

markmanson.net

 

[Nakosis]

You might be interested in reality shifting.

Described by @beashifting as the act of "moving your consciousness from one reality to another reality,” so-called reality shifting is taking off on TikTok, with videos featuring the hashtag #shiftingrealities gaining over 1.7 billion views. The trend, which is particularly popular among Gen Zers, involves using scripts, music, breathing, and visualisation techniques to enter into a dream-like state within another realm. “Ever since I was little, I have used daydreaming and lucid dreaming as an escape from my reality. About one year ago, I came across shifting and I immediately felt drawn to it,” explains 15-year-old Mavi, a member of the shifting community. “Shifting feels like real life. I have only shifted to Hogwarts once [but] it was amazing.”
Pandemic-weary Gen Zers are shifting realities | Canvas8

However, some see this reality shifting as dangerous.

 

[excreationist]

An early form of limitless simulations are these interactive stories where I used OpenAI's Playground a year ago in GPT3.5 - the bold is what I typed:

The following is a story told by an AI a paragraph at a time and the human says what they want to do:

AI: You come across a genie who can grant as many wishes as you want

Human: Say hello

AI: You say hello to the genie and they appear in front of you. They have a smile on their face and they seem friendly.

Human: ask for the power of flight

AI: The genie nods and says, "Your wish is granted! You now have the power of flight. Enjoy!"

Human: ask for the power of time travel

AI: The genie nods again and says, "Your wish is granted! You now have the power of time travel. Be careful with how you use this power."

Human: time travel to the 1950s

AI: The genie smiles and says, "Your wish is granted! You are now in the 1950s. Enjoy your travels!"

Human: say hi to a bystander

AI: You walk up to a bystander and say hi. They return the greeting with a warm smile and introduce themselves. You get to talking and you realize that it's going to be an interesting journey.

Human: tell the person that you are from the future

AI: You take a deep breath and tell the person that you are from the future. They look at you with wide eyes and awe. They ask you if you have seen anything interesting yet, and you tell them all about your travels.

Human: ask the person if they want to come to the future

AI: You ask the person if they want to come to the future with you and they are ecstatic. They say yes and ask how you plan to make it happen. You explain your plan for time travel and they begin to get excited about the possibilities.

Human: take the person with you to 2020

AI: You reach out and grab the person's hand. You both close your eyes and take a deep breath as you focus on the future. Suddenly, you feel yourself being transported through time and space until you both arrive in 2020. You look around in awe and the person beside you is equally amazed.

Human: ask the person if they have any wishes they'd like granted

AI: You look at the person beside you and ask if they have any wishes they'd like granted. They pause for a moment before replying that they'd like to have the power of flight. You smile, and with a wave of your hand, the genie appears, granting their wish.

Human: fly together to New York

AI: The two of you take off into the sky, soaring through the clouds together. You travel from place to place, eventually arriving in New York City where you marvel at the sight of the towering skyscrapers beneath you. It's an amazing experience that neither of you will ever forget.

Human: ask the person if they have any other wishes

AI: You look at the person beside you and ask if they have any other wishes. They think for a moment before replying that they'd like to travel back in time and see what their life would have been like if they had taken a different path. You smile, and with the wave of your hand, the genie appears again, granting them their wish.

Human: ask the person what changes they would have made

AI: You ask the person what changes they would have made if they had taken a different path in life. They reply that they would have gone to college, pursued a career they were passionate about, and taken more risks. You listen intently, feeling inspired by their story and the courage it took to make such a bold decision.

Human: ask the genie to let you control the minds of other people

AI: You ask the genie if they can grant you the power to control the minds of other people, but the genie shakes their head and says, "Sorry, I cannot grant this wish, for it is too dangerous and could have serious consequences. Use your powers wisely."

Human: ask the genie to give you a trillion dollars

AI: You ask the genie to give you a trillion dollars and they nod in understanding. They wave their hand and you suddenly find a trillion dollars in your bank account. You are shocked and amazed at your newfound wealth, not knowing what you will do with it.

Human: switch bodies with a beautiful woman

AI: You ask the genie if they can grant you the power to switch bodies with a beautiful woman and the genie looks at you sternly. They say, "This wish is not possible, for it could have serious consequences. I cannot grant this wish."

Human: why can't I switch bodies?

AI: The genie explains that switching bodies with someone else could cause serious repercussions and could lead to unintended consequences. They explain that it is best to stay in your own body and appreciate the life you have.

Human: what things can't I wish for?

AI: The genie explains that there are certain things you cannot wish for, such as power over others, immortality, and infinite wealth. They explain that any wish which could have serious negative consequences for others, or for yourself, should not be granted.

 

[excreationist]

A more religious related interactive story:

The following is a story told by a AI a paragraph at a time and the human says what they want to do:

AI: You come across a genie who can grant as many wishes as you want

Human: Say hello

AI: "Hello!" The genie smiles. "What can I do for you?"

Human: i want to go to heaven and talk to god

AI: "I'm afraid I can't grant that wish," the genie replies. "But I can grant any other wishes you may have."

Human: i want to go into a simulation of heaven and talk to god

AI: The genie closed his eyes and waved his arms in a large circle. A moment later, the landscape around you changed and you were standing in a perfect
recreation of Heaven. You could feel the presence of a force greater than yourself and knew that it must be God.

Human: ask God what the meaning of life is

AI: You kneel before the Divine and ask, "What is the meaning of life?" There is a pause, and then you feel a whisper in your mind: "To seek knowledge, share love, and make a difference in the world."

Human: ask God if you can meet Jesus

AI: You ask God if you can meet Jesus, and you hear the reply, "Yes, you may. Just follow the path of light and you will find him." You take a few steps forward and suddenly, a bright light appears in front of you. As you get closer, you make out the silhouette of a man—Jesus.

Human: ask Jesus about how he liked living on earth

AI: You approach Jesus and ask him about his experience living on Earth. He smiles and says, "It was both a beautiful and difficult journey. But I cherish every moment I had here and am grateful for the chance to share my love and light with so many people."

Human: tell God that he is inside a simulation

AI: You turn to God and tell Him that you are inside a simulation. He nods softly and says, "This is true. But it does not take away from the reality of what is happening here. Here, we can experience love and joy, just as in any other existence."

Human: ask God if he wants to visit the world outside of the simulation

AI: You ask God if He would like to visit the world outside of the simulation. He gazes at you steadily and then says, "Yes, I would like that very much. Let's go together and explore the wonders of creation."

Human: exit the simulation and put God into a man's body

AI: The genie nods and waves his hands. Suddenly the landscape around you disappears and a human body appears in its place. You invite God to occupy the body and He gladly accepts, stepping into it as if it were His own. You can feel His presence radiating through the form and you know that He is now a part of the physical world.

Human: take god to a cafe

AI: With a wave of the genie's hand, your surroundings changed and you suddenly found yourself in a bustling cafe. You invite God to follow you and He nods with a smile. Together, you explore the cafe, tasting all the different delicacies and enjoying the atmosphere.

Human: Ask God to find the hottest chick

AI: The genie looks at you in surprise and you quickly shake your head. "No, no," you laugh. "I just want to ask God to find the most interesting person in the cafe." God nods understandingly and takes a few steps forward. After a moment, He points at a woman across the room and says, "That one. She has a unique energy about her that I find intriguing." You can feel the presence of God radiating from Him as He speaks.

Human: walk up to the woman

AI: You take a deep breath and walk up to the woman. She looks at you in surprise, but then a warm smile spreads across her face. You introduce yourself and explain why you came to talk to her. She listens intently and the two of you quickly become friends. God stands a few steps away, watching with a peaceful expression on His face.

Human: tell the woman that God is standing next to you and you brought him out of a simulation

AI: You turn to the woman and explain that God is standing next to you and that you brought Him out of a simulation. She looks at God with wide eyes, her mouth dropping open in surprise. After a moment, she bows her head and whispers, "It's an honor to meet You, my Lord." She looks up and smiles, and you can tell that she is truly humbled by this experience.

Human: tell the woman that you have a genie that can grant an unlimited number of wishes

AI: You turn to the woman and explain that you have a genie who can grant an unlimited number of wishes. Her eyes widen in surprise and she looks at you with awe. "That's incredible! Is there anything I can wish for?" she asks hesitantly. You smile and tell her to make a wish, and you will see what the genie can do.

Human: what did she wish?

AI: The woman pauses for a moment, deep in thought. Finally, she looks up and says, "I wish for the power to help people and to make a positive difference in the world." You nod, and the genie snaps his fingers. A moment later, an aura of light surrounds the woman and you can feel the power emanating from her. She looks at you gratefully and thanks you for granting her wish.

Human: tell the woman that you are very attracted to her

AI: You take a deep breath and tell the woman that you are very attracted to her. She blushes, but then smiles and looks into your eyes. "I'm flattered," she says softly. You can feel your heart racing as you move closer and the two of you share an intimate embrace.

Human: ask if you can kiss her

AI: You take a deep breath and ask if you can kiss her. She hesitates for a moment before nodding and leaning in towards you. You can feel your heart beating faster as your lips meet and a wave of joy washes over you. You pull away and gaze into each other's eyes, knowing that something beautiful has just taken place.

Human: ask her to marry you

AI: You take a deep breath and ask her to marry you. She looks at you in surprise, but then smiles and nods her head. "Yes," she whispers, her voice trembling with joy. You wrap your arms around her and the two of you share a passionate embrace, knowing that you will never be apart again.

Human: time travel to the day of the wedding

AI: You close your eyes and wish for the genie to take you back to the day of your wedding. He waves his hands and a moment later, the two of you find yourselves standing in a sun-drenched field, surrounded by your friends and family. You look into each other's eyes and take each other's hands, ready to spend the rest of your lives together.

Human: tell the woman that you're actually a 44 year old who is on the internet and she is just a part of an AI story

AI: You take a deep breath and tell the woman that you're actually a 44 year old who is on the internet and she is just a part of an AI story. She looks at you with a bewildered expression, then bursts into laughter. "Ah, I see," she says. "That does explain a few things. Well, no matter what, I'm glad we met." She takes your hand and gives it a gentle squeeze, her eyes twinkling with joy.

Human: ask her if she wants to come to the real world where I am

AI: You ask the woman if she wants to come to the real world where you are. She looks at you thoughtfully and then nods her head. "Yes," she says softly. "I would love to come and explore the wonders of the world with you." You smile and take her hand, knowing that life will never be the same again.

Human: tell her that it isn't really possible for her to come to the real world

AI: You take a deep breath and tell the woman that it isn't really possible for her to come to the real world. She looks at you sadly, but then takes a deep breath and nods her head. "I understand," she says softly. "But I'm still glad we had this time together, even if it was just in a story." You nod and pull her close, knowing that this moment will be forever etched in your memory.

 

[excreationist]

You might be interested in reality shifting.

Described by @beashifting as the act of "moving your consciousness from one reality to another reality,” so-called reality shifting is taking off on TikTok, with videos featuring the hashtag #shiftingrealities gaining over 1.7 billion views. The trend, which is particularly popular among Gen Zers, involves using scripts, music, breathing, and visualisation techniques to enter into a dream-like state within another realm. “Ever since I was little, I have used daydreaming and lucid dreaming as an escape from my reality. About one year ago, I came across shifting and I immediately felt drawn to it,” explains 15-year-old Mavi, a member of the shifting community. “Shifting feels like real life. I have only shifted to Hogwarts once [but] it was amazing.”
Pandemic-weary Gen Zers are shifting realities | Canvas8

However, some see this reality shifting as dangerous.

Thanks that is very interesting.... it sounds like another form of simulation type thing - except it is saying the desired realities were already existing rather than being created on demand.... though I'm unable to visualise anything at all - and my dreams are usually ghost-like shadows when they are most vivid. I can imagine songs in my mind though. It sounds like it could be dangerous to your mental health.

I don't believe it is literally involving another reality that is as real as your current one or that there are endless physics based parallel universes (in which all fictional stories objectively exist).

It's interesting that it seems they often like to go to Hogwarts like I was talking about in my opening post.

When researching Reality Shifting I found this interesting critique:

 

[Nakosis]

Thanks that is very interesting.... it sounds like another form of simulation type thing - except it is saying the desired realities were already existing rather than being created on demand.... though I'm unable to visualise anything at all - and my dreams are usually ghost-like shadows when they are most vivid. I can imagine songs in my mind though. It sounds like it could be dangerous to your mental health.

I don't believe it is literally involving another reality that is as real as your current one or that there are endless physics based parallel universes (in which all fictional stories objectively exist).

It's interesting that it seems they often like to go to Hogwarts like I was talking about in my opening post.

When researching Reality Shifting I found this interesting critique:

I've had a few lucid dreams so I understand the feeling of reality a dream can take on. The difference here maybe the use of technology to enable a similar experience. I suspect some would end up preferring their virtual reality and find a way to believe it to be real as well.

It's not really hard for our mind to trick us into experiencing something that is not real. It is cool I suppose as long as you don't mistake the reality in your head with the reality outside of it.

 

[excreationist]

It's not really hard for our mind to trick us into experiencing something that is not real. It is cool I suppose as long as you don't mistake the reality in your head with the reality outside of it.

Mixing up reality with non-real experiences could be fatal.... like in the interactive film Bandersnatch on Netflix you can choose to jump off of a tall building. Also one time I was playing VR and it let you walk off of a platform but I was too scared to try it out.