There is no prescribed route to follow to arrive at a new idea. You have to make the intuitive leap.

My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.

You may see a cup of tea fall off a table and break into pieces on the floor... But you will never see the cup gather itself back together and jump back on the table. The increase of disorder, or entropy, is what distinguishes the past from the future, giving a direction to time.

I think computer viruses should count as life.

The increase of disorder or entropy with time is one example of what is called an arrow of time, something that distinguishes the past from the future, giving a direction to time.

If a superior alien civilization sent us a message saying, 'We'll arrive in a few decades', would we just reply, 'OK, call us when you get here - we'll leave the lights on'? Probably not - but this is more or less what is happening with AI.

I have to speak through a computer... in my mind, I am free. Free to explore the universe and ask the big questions...