Today, let’s talk about a profound topic that may overturn your understanding: Does the universe truly operate like a precise, fully replicable machine? Or, is the cornerstone we use to understand computation—the Turing Machine—sufficient to describe this vast and mysterious universe?

The Limitations of the Turing Machine: Deterministic “Copy and Paste”?

The Turing Machine, as the theoretical foundation of computer science, is known for its determinism and replicability. For any given input and state, it always follows a unique set of rules for computation, and its process and results can theoretically be perfectly replicated. This provides a powerful framework for us to understand and build computers.

However, when we look at the universe we live in, a stark contrast emerges: no two snowflakes are exactly the same, and every flower displays a unique beauty. This kind of uniqueness and irreproducible “reality” seems to be at odds with the Turing Machine’s precise “copy-and-paste” style of computation.

The Miracle of Low Energy Consumption: The Universe’s Adaptive Path

Even more thought-provoking is the energy efficiency of the universe. From the movement of galaxies to the reproduction of life, the universe displays incredible complexity and adaptability under extremely low energy consumption. Imagine trying to simulate every “entity” in the universe using countless Turing Machines—the required energy would far exceed the universe’s total energy itself! This suggests that the underlying operational logic of the universe must be a more subtle and energy-efficient model.

A New Perspective: P/NP Problem and Interactive Proofs

So how does this “supercomputer” that is the universe actually run? Perhaps we need to introduce deeper concepts from computational complexity theory—the P/NP problem and interactive proofs.

• The Asymmetry of P/NP:
• Perhaps the verification of natural laws in the universe is relatively easy like P problems, while the emergence and evolution of complex phenomena are as hard to compute precisely as NP problems. This asymmetry of “easy to verify, hard to solve” might be the root of the universe’s diversity and complexity.
• Interactive Proofs:
• Everything in the universe, from microscopic particles to macroscopic celestial bodies, is constantly interacting, exchanging information, and adapting based on each other’s states and environments. This is like an ongoing “interactive proof,” where each entity is “proving” its existence and adaptability through its actions.

The “Truth” of the Universe’s Operation: A Non-Deterministic Interaction?

If the universe truly operates based on this P/NP asymmetry and interactive proof model, then its essence is not deterministic, replicable computation, but rather a more dynamic, uncertain, and self-organizing process. Complexity emerges through unpredictable computations, while system stability and evolution rely on efficient interactive “verification” and adaptation.

Inspiration for Humanity: Creating a More Intelligent Future

This new understanding of the universe’s underlying logic offers important guidance for building artificial intelligent agents. If we want to construct systems that truly adapt and handle complex environments, we cannot be limited to deterministic computational models. Instead, we should learn from the wisdom of the universe and explore new paradigms that can handle uncertainty and achieve complex behaviors through interaction.

An Interesting Starting Point: Bitcoin

Perhaps we’ve already seen the dawn of this new approach. Some see Bitcoin as the first man-made complex adaptive system. It has no central control, operates through a distributed consensus mechanism, and achieves system stability and evolution through incentives and game theory. Although it differs from natural adaptive systems, Bitcoin’s emergence may mark an important first step for humanity in constructing complex adaptive systems.

Conclusion: Merging with the Reality of the Universe

Recognizing the potential role of computational complexity and interactivity in the universe’s operations marks a new stage in our understanding of intelligence and complex systems. We may be standing at the beginning of a deeper fusion with the true nature of the universe. Future artificial intelligence will no longer be just cold algorithms, but complex lifeforms capable of coexisting with their environment and autonomously adapting.