‘Simulation theory’ brings an AI twist out of ‘The Matrix’ to ideas mystics and religious scholars have voiced for centuries

By: Rizwan Virk, Arizona State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: November 13, 2025

Words: 1,420

Last Updated: 1 week, 4 days ago

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By Rizwan Virk, Arizona State University

In the most talked-about film from the final year of the 20th century, “The Matrix,” a computer hacker named Neo finds that the world he lives and works in isn’t real. It’s a virtual reality, created by artificial intelligence.

At the time, the idea seemed like science fiction. In the years since, however, that concept has become an increasingly credible theory: “the simulation hypothesis.” This theory posits …

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