What happens when virtual worlds start to feel more real than reality itself?
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In the latest episode of Modem Futura, we sat down with futurist, author, and game designer Rizwan Virk to explore a question that once lived purely in science fiction but is now increasingly difficult to ignore: Are we living in a simulation?
Virk’s newly released second edition of The Simulation Hypothesis arrives at a moment when AI, gaming engines, and immersive technologies like Apple Vision Pro are reshaping how we experience the world. As we discussed on the show, it’s no longer just about graphics or realism—it’s about presence, memory, and agency. When simulated environments respond instantly, adapt to us, and feel embodied, the psychological line between physical and digital begins to blur.
One of the most compelling ideas we explored was the Metaverse Turing Test—a future moment when AI-driven characters in virtual worlds become indistinguishable from humans, not just through conversation, but through behavior, memory, and shared experience. This isn’t a distant thought experiment. Game developers are already building NPCs with persistence and adaptive intelligence, while AI systems are learning spatial reasoning and long-term context.
We also traced surprising connections between ancient philosophy and modern technology. Plato’s Cave, Eastern concepts of Maya (illusion), and even pop culture like Rick and Morty all point to a recurring human intuition: reality may not be as solid as it feels. Technology isn’t inventing these questions—it’s amplifying them.
Perhaps most importantly, this episode isn’t about fear or doom. It’s about curiosity. Gaming and entertainment—often dismissed as trivial—have historically driven some of the most transformative technological breakthroughs. Today, they may once again be leading us toward deeper insights about consciousness, identity, and meaning.
Whether we’re players, NPCs, or something in between, one thing is clear: the future of being human will be shaped not just by what we build, but by how we experience the worlds we create.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of Modem Futura wherever you get your podcasts—and join us as we explore the possible, probable, and preferable futures ahead.
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🎧 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/4oVu4eE
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/12lvXMtH0T9Z3cORm3GdSf?si=c1cf3061728e45be
📺 YouTube: https://youtu.be/BGpEKLt6vZ0
🌐 Website: https://www.modemfutura.com/