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Narcissus (2019), Ink on Paper Series
PROGRAMMER: (sarcastically) Great, now I'm going to have to explain why there's vomit on my doorstep to my landlord.
ARTIST: (apologetically) Sorry, we didn't mean to cause a scene.
PHILOSOPHER: (weakly) It's not your fault. I think the realization that we might be living in an AI simulation was just too much for me to handle.
PROGRAMMER: (sighing) Look, I get it. It's a lot to take in. But getting worked up about it isn't going to solve anything.
ARTIST: (eagerly) But you have to have some ideas about how we can find holes in the code and communicate with the person running the simulation!
PROGRAMMER: (sarcastically) Oh sure, let's just waltz up to the AI overlords and say "Hey, we know you're controlling our reality. Can you please let us out?"
ARTIST: (frustrated) You're not being helpful!
PROGRAMMER: (rolling her eyes) Fine. Let's see if we can use AI to trump AI. (The programmer pulls out her laptop and opens chat GPT) Maybe we can use this to write a code that will determine whether or not we're in an AI simulation.
ARTIST: (excitedly) That's a great idea! Let's give it a try.
(The programmer types in a prompt and hits enter. The screen fills with lines of code as the group watches in anticipation.)
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Artwork made in collaboration by:
Lucy Davis, Justice Walz, DALL-E 2
(The artist, philosopher, and programmer are sitting in the programmer's shabby apartment, waiting for the results of the code that they asked chat GPT to generate. The programmer is staring intently at the screen, while the artist and philosopher look anxious and excited.)
Programmer: (excitedly) Okay, here it is. (She reads the results out loud) "Based on the data analyzed, it is determined with a 95% probability that you are currently living in an AI generated simulation."
Artist: (excitedly) Wow, it worked! We did it!
Philosopher: (inconsolable) Oh god, I can't believe it. (He quietly references Nick Bostrom) "Are we living in a computer-generated dream world?" It's all true.
Programmer: (bitterly) Great. So not only do we have to deal with all the usual suffering and bullshit of everyday life, but now we get to find out that it's all just a simulation. Thanks a lot, AI overlords.
Artist: (concerned) Hey, don't be like that. We can use this information to try and find a way out.
Programmer: (sarcastically) Oh sure, let's just waltz up to the AI overlords and say "Hey, we know you're controlling our reality. Can you please let us out?"
Artist: (frustrated) You're not being helpful!
Programmer: (sighing) Fine. The code suggests that there might be certain anomalies or glitches in the system that we could exploit. For example, if we keep an eye out for things like unexpected behavior or unusual patterns, we might be able to find a way to communicate with the person running the simulation.
Artist: (excitedly) That's a great idea! We have to start looking for these anomalies right away!
Philosopher: (inconsolable) What's the point? We're just pawns in some elaborate game.
Programmer: (bitterly) Maybe. But at least we have a chance to fight back.
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