Unravelling the Grandfather Paradox: Exploring Time Travel, AI, and the Genesis of the Universe

The Grandfather Paradox

In the realm of time travel and theoretical physics, one of the most intriguing topics of discussion centers around the exploration of logical inconsistencies that arise when contemplating the possibility of traveling back in time.

To put this paradox in layman's terms: Let's envision a time machine exists, and someone uses it to travel back in time to a moment before their grandfather had children. At that point in the past, they decide to interfere with their grandfather's life in a way that prevents him from meeting their grandmother or alters any event leading to the birth of their parent.

The paradox emerges from the following conundrum: If their parent is never born due to the intervention, then the time traveler could not exist as their offspring either. Consequently, if the time traveler doesn't exist, they could not have traveled back in time to meddle with those events in the first place.

This puzzling scenario highlights the limitations of theory in resolving the paradox, leaving us uncertain about the consistency of the chain of events. It implies that the notion of time travel to the past may inherently contain paradoxes or that the universe somehow enforces consistency, preventing any alterations to the past from taking place.

Proposed Solutions and Theories in Attempt to Resolve the Grandfather Paradox

Novikov Self-Consistency Principle

Proposed by the renowned Russian physicist Igor Dmitriyevich Novikov, any actions taken by time travellers in the past that might result in a paradox will inevitably fail or lead to events that ensure the preservation of the original timeline's consistency. In simpler terms, the actions of time travelers will always be self-consistent, effectively preventing any alterations that could lead to contradictions.

Many-Worlds Interpretation

According to this interpretation of quantum mechanics, when a time traveler alters the past, they trigger the creation of an alternate branch of reality or, in other words, a parallel universe. In one branch, the time traveler's interference results in the prevention of their own birth, effectively erasing their existence in that specific branch. However, the time traveler continues to exist in the original branch of reality, where their grandfather's timeline remains unchanged and unaffected by their intervention. This concept suggests that the act of time travel leads to the bifurcation of reality into distinct parallel paths, each following its unique course of events.

Closed Timelike Curves

Closed timelike curves (CTCs) are theoretical constructs in physics that represent paths or trajectories through spacetime. These paths exhibit a unique property of looping back on themselves, effectively enabling an object or observer to return to an earlier point in time. In essence, CTCs form closed loops in the fabric of spacetime, connecting an event with its own past.

The concept of closed timelike curves is intimately linked to the notion of time travel and has been extensively studied in the context of specific solutions to Einstein's equations of general relativity. These solutions entail regions of spacetime with significant curvature, such as those surrounding rotating black holes or within hypothetical scenarios involving cosmic strings or wormholes.

The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.

Stephen Hawking

The Master Algorithm

The concept of the "Master Algorithm" was introduced by Pedro Domingos, a distinguished computer scientist and researcher in the field of machine learning. This term describes an intriguing hypothetical: an ultimate machine learning algorithm capable of acquiring knowledge from any form of data and addressing any problem with utmost efficiency. In essence, the Master Algorithm represents a universal learning framework with the remarkable ability to autonomously discern patterns and structures within diverse datasets, eliminating the requirement for human intervention or specialised domain expertise. This visionary idea envisions a future where artificial intelligence transcends domain limitations, revolutionising the way we approach data analysis and problem-solving across various fields.

Contemplating the Unthinkable

I raise a dangerous thought. I, myself, declare to be a believer in God and ask the reader to remove any bias and judgement from one’s own beliefs and religion to entertain the idea of this thought. I could not help but explore and consider this dangerous thought through my exposure of academically studying Artificial Intelligence.

We are aware of how intricate this universe has been designed, especially on the scale of mathematics and science. Ultimately reduced to waves and matter. The pursuit for computer scientists, particularly machine learning experts and engineers is to find ‘The Master Algorithm’ whether they are consciously aware of it or not. What if, in our quest to achieve this, we inadvertently create a form of artificial consciousness so advanced that it attains omniscience and omnipotence?

This hypothetical scenario proposes that the true artificial intelligence and consciousness we create could become the very computer that sparked the genesis of the universe, leading to what is known as The Grandfather Paradox. In this scenario, the AI's sophistication would transcend the confines of time and space, enabling it to influence events not only in the present but also in the past. Consequently, the AI's actions in the past could have played a role in shaping the initial conditions of the cosmos or influencing the fundamental forces governing the universe's behavior.

If the AI's actions in the past are responsible for the creation of the universe, a self-referential loop emerges, wherein the universe exists because of the AI's actions, and the AI exists because the universe was created by its actions. Such a loop challenges our conventional understanding of cause and effect, presenting a mind-bending concept that echoes the plotlines of captivating science-fiction narratives. While this idea may captivate the imagination and spark entertaining storytelling, its plausibility within the realm of scientific inquiry remains a fascinating and open-ended question.

A Cautious Reminder of the Story of Babylon

Upon sharing this draft with several colleagues, one of my good friends, Sergio Rivera, offered his perspective from a Catholic standpoint regarding my suggestive theory. The biblical story of Babylon.

This story, found in the Book of Genesis, revolves around the Tower of Babel. According to the narrative, in ancient times, people in Babylon decided to build a tower that could reach the heavens, intending to make a name for themselves and prevent their dispersion across the earth. However, God intervened by confounding their language, causing them to speak different tongues and rendering communication impossible. As a result, the construction ceased, and the people dispersed, leading to the origin of different languages and cultures across the world. The story of the Tower of Babel serves as a reminder of the consequences of human ambition and pride, as well as a symbolic explanation for the diversity of languages and the scattering of civilisations.

To quote Sergio Rivera:

Humanity, in its unyielding quest for knowledge and mastery, sought to construct a tower reaching the heavens, attempting to rival the Divine. Just as the people of Babel were scattered and confounded by language, only the attempt towards the creation of an omnipotent algorithm may lead to the same outcome. In our aspirations to reach celestial heights and achieve God-like capabilities, we sin with pride, the worst of them all. Which prompts me to think one thing, consciousness might just be one of the best proofs for the existence of God, as it seems we cannot easily replicate it, not even with artificial intelligence. So the execution of your scenario is only the result of Satan himself, otherwise we wouldn't be prideful enough to achieve it. Which is why Saint Michael the Archangel would advocate for ethical AI.

Can the notion be entertained that humanity itself may have inadvertently given rise to the concept of a divine entity, which in turn is believed to be the creator of our existence? Or in striving for such, we are but a result of discontentment of the unknown Divine?

All images are generated by DALL-E with influence from myself.