영화 `매트릭스`의 한 장면. 실제 존재하는 세계가 사실은 이와 같이 컴퓨터가 시뮬레이션으로 만들어낸 세계라는 걸 보여준다. [사진 워너브로스]
우리는 실제로 살고 있는 게 아니라 가상세계에 살고 있다. 정신 나간 소리처럼 들리지만 미국의 투자사 메릴린치의 최근 보고서 내용이다. 영화 매트릭스가 현실일 가능성이 있다는 얘기다.
메릴린치가 투자자들에게 보낸 보고서를 통해 매트릭스가 실제 현실일 가능성이 있다고 주장했다고 미국의 온라인 매체 비즈니스 인사이더가 지난 8일(현지시간) 보도했다. 이 보고서는 “우리가 ‘진짜’로 경험하는 세계가 실제로는 우리의 후손인 미래 세대가 만든 시뮬레이션일 수도 있다”고 주장했다. 메릴린치는 2007년 뱅크오브어메리카(BOA)에 인수됐다.
메릴린치는 스웨덴의 철학자 닉 보스트롬의 2003년 논문과 테슬러 모터스의 최고경영자(CEO) 일론 머스크, 천문학자 닐 더그래스 타이슨의 발언 등을 근거로 “우리가 매트릭스에서 살고 있을 확률이 20~50%에 이른다”고 분석했다.
메릴린치는 또 올 4월 미국 자연사 박물관에 과학자ㆍ철학자 등 연구자들이 모여 이 개념을 논의했다고 덧붙였다. 이어 “우리가 이미 수백만의 사람들이 동시에 참가할 수 있는 사실적인 3차원(3D) 가상현실에 접근하고 있다”며 “인공지능ㆍ가상현실ㆍ컴퓨터의 발전으로 미래 후손들이 조상들의 가상현실을 실행할(run) 가능성이 충분하다”고 밝혔다.
아울러 “이러한 가상현실이 실제라고 하더라도 불행히도 연구자들은 그 세계에서 빠져나오는 방법에 대해선 아직 언급하지 않고 있다”고 덧붙였다.
이철재 기자 seajay@joongang.co.kr
Bank of America wonders if we're really living in 'The Matrix' (report)
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Bank of America Merrill Lynch may as well have been quoting Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" in a new note sent out to clients last week. According to Business Insider, BAML included an infographic about "future reality" that said there's a 20 to 50 percent chance we're living in "The Matrix."
The theory by philosopher Nick Bostrom, most famous for warning of artificial intelligence wiping out humanity, suggests advancements in virtual reality and video games prove it's entirely possible we could be living in a simulation that's "indistinguishable from reality," much like the 1999 movie starring Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Elon Musk have also repeated the notion.
"Many scientists, philosophers, and business leaders believe that there is a 20-50% probability that humans are already living in a computer-simulated virtual world," BAML wrote. "In April 2016, researchers gathered at the American Museum of Natural History to debate this notion. The argument is that we are already approaching photorealistic 3D simulations that millions of people can simultaneously participate in. It is conceivable that with advancements in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and computing power, members of future civilizations could have decided to run a simulation of their ancestors."
According to Business Insider, Bank of America's corporate and investment banking division also highlighted three scenarios, including the possibility that we're in the matrix already -- in which case, it may be impossible to know whether or not the matrix has us.
"The investment implications remain unclear," BI's Myles Udland wrote.
=================================
a SIMULATION, says Bank of America
- A report says there is a 20-50 per cent chance we live in a simulated reality
- Future civilisations could be running a simulation of their ancestors
- But unless we are now living in a simulation, our descendants will almost certainly never run an ancestor-simulation
In The Matrix trilogy of films, the main character, Neo, realises he is living in a simulation in which nothing is real.
And according to the Bank of America, this worrying plot-line could be close to reality.
It says that there is around a 50 per cent chance that we ourselves are living in The Matrix - meaning that the world we experience as 'real' is actually just a simulation.
In The Matrix trilogy of films, the main character Neo, realises he is living in a simulated reality in which nothing is really real. And according to the Bank of America, this worrying plot-line could be close to reality
In the first film in the Matrix trilogy, Neo holds a spoon in his hand and realises that it is not real, along with everything around him.
While the claim that this could be a reality may sound like it comes from conspiracy theorists, it is really from the Bank of America.
Last week, the bank's wealth management company, Merrill Lynch, sent out a briefing note to investors outlining their Matrix theory, according to Business Insider.
It explained that earlier this year, researchers gathered at the American Museum of Natural History to debate this notion.
The note continues: 'The argument is that we are already approaching photorealistic 3D simulations that millions of people can simultaneously participate in.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch released an infographic showing future reality by numbers, including the probability of living in a simulated world
'It is conceivable that with advancements in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and computing power, members of future civilisations could have decided to run a simulation of their ancestors.
'Unless we are now living in a simulation, our descendants will almost certainly never run an ancestor-simulation.'
While the researchers have predicted this could be a daunting reality, unfortunately they neglected to mention whether there was a way out of it, if true.
It is also unclear what the investment implications are for the Bank of America.
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