I finally understand why Elon Musk is so convinced that we are living in a "simulation."
Author: Jiayi Jia Yi
Elon Musk: The probability that we are living in a basic reality is only one in a billion.
Neil deGrasse Tyson (Famous American astrophysicist): I wish I could find a strong argument to refute it (the simulation hypothesis), but I can’t find a single one.
I’m an investor and an entrepreneur. I believe in code, logic, and verifiable data. This sci-fi-like speculation, to me, is just billionaire entertainment after dinner.
But what truly made me start to waver wasn’t Musk, nor physics, but two small “metaphysical” things that happened to me.
First thing, about a Bazi master
I have a Bazi master I’ve worked with for years. Before every new investment, I ask him to do a reading. I’m not superstitious; I just see it as an alternative “risk assessment.”
But the astonishing thing is, his predictions match my actual investment returns with incredible accuracy. He can even precisely point out what kind of “obstacles” the project will face at each stage.
At first, I thought it was just coincidence. But after this “coincidence” repeated over a dozen times, I had to admit: there must be some logic behind it that I don’t understand.
Second thing, about my tarot-reading best friend
I have a very talented best friend—her family background and education are impeccable. A few years ago, she suddenly said she wanted to learn tarot.
I thought she was crazy at the time. But because I knew her well, I didn’t say anything.
Later, I started asking her questions just for fun. The results were extremely accurate.
I began to doubt. I asked her to use different methods: offline card laying, phone app shuffling, even asking her to repeat the same question multiple times. Each time, the core message was astonishingly consistent.
I was completely confused. I asked her, “What exactly is the principle behind tarot?”
She gave me a chilling explanation:
“You can think of this world as a huge database. Tarot readers are like programmers—different abilities mean different ‘database access permissions.’ The higher your ability, the more comprehensive and accurate the data you can retrieve. Tarot is just a tool we use to query this database.”
“Database permissions”… that phrase hit me like lightning.
Suddenly, I remembered Musk’s words. I started to re-examine this world from a programmer’s fundamental perspective.
And then, I found more and more “coincidences,” so many that I couldn’t deny them.
Coincidence 1: The “junk DNA” in our genes
Our DNA is like an extremely complex code. But strangely, 98% of its sequences don’t code for proteins—it’s “junk DNA.”
Why is there so much “useless” code?
If you see the world as a program, it’s easy to explain:
- It’s legacy code from old versions
- It’s commented-out but undeleted modules
- It’s redundant data left over after system upgrades
Just like old files on your computer—unused but not deleted.
Coincidence 2: The “version update” before and after the Great Flood
Why do all ancient civilizations have a shared memory of the “Great Flood”? In China, Nüwa repairing the sky; in the West, Noah’s Ark.
Why, in these myths, did humans before the flood live astonishingly long lives (sometimes 800-900 years), but after the flood, lifespan sharply declined?
Doesn’t this resemble a server “reset”?
- The Great Flood = system reset
- High longevity before the flood = old version parameters
- Post-flood lifespan drop = new version parameter adjustments (perhaps to limit player abilities)
Coincidence 3: The universe’s “performance limit”
⭕️ Big Bang: not a singularity, but the system booting up (UNIVERSE.EXE LOADING…)
⭕️ Speed of light: not a physical limit, but a CPU clock speed cap
⭕️ Déjà vu: not memory glitch, but cache error
When I connect these clues, I arrive at a chilling conclusion:
If we think of our world from a “virtual” perspective, everything makes sense.
So, if this is true, what should we do? Give up?
At first, this conclusion made me feel nihilistic. If everything is just code, what’s the point of effort?
But metaphysics gave me another answer: you can change your fate.
Yes, this world might be virtual, but all your feelings—love, joy, pain, achievement—are absolutely real.
Your destiny is like the default settings of a game character; it determines your upper limit. For example, I might never become a billionaire in this life.
But I can strive within my version to reach my maximum potential.
I can fully experience everything this world offers—feel every heartbeat, create my own value.
Because, experience is the only truly real thing in this game.
Epilogue: From “player” to “advanced player”
Writing this, I finally understand Musk’s confidence. He’s not playing philosophy; he’s using first principles to think about the truth of our existence.
The simulation theory isn’t pessimistic. Quite the opposite—it gives us unprecedented freedom.
Our generation is at a pivotal moment—from passive “players” to active “advanced players.” We hold the keys of Web3 and AI, and for the first time, we have the chance to explore and even modify the rules of this “simulated world.”
And that’s more important than figuring out whether the world is real or not.
So, don’t laugh anymore. Next time you encounter an unexplainable “coincidence,” consider this:
What kind of role do you want to play in this game?