Julian Dorey Podcast

#329 - MIT Simulation Expert on Aliens, "Ancestor" Civilizations & Reincarnation | Riz Virk

Aug 15, 2025
Guest
Riz Virk
In this engaging conversation, Riz Virk, a successful entrepreneur and MIT graduate, dives deep into fascinating topics like the simulation hypothesis and our existence as information-based beings. He connects advancements in AI to philosophical questions about reality and identity. Riz also explores ancient civilizations and their artistic representations, questioning our understanding of memory and perception. The discussion teases apart the implications of UFO sightings and the nature of truth, wrapping up with a thought-provoking look at technology's role in shaping our realities.
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INSIGHT

We're Near The 'Simulation Point'

  • Riz Virk argues we're ~70% of the way to a “simulation point” where VR+AI make reality indistinguishable from physical life.
  • He ties faster-than-expected AI and brain-computer advances to accelerating that timeline.
ANECDOTE

VR Ping-Pong Triggered The Inquiry

  • Riz recounts trying a 2016 VR ping-pong headset and nearly falling because his body reacted as if the game were real.
  • That visceral moment pushed him to ask how immersive we could make simulations.
INSIGHT

Reality As Rendered Information

  • Riz frames physical reality as rendered information, not fixed matter, likening shared perception to game rendering on separate machines.
  • He connects quantum observer effects to optimization strategies in simulated rendering.
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