In this talk, Seth Lloyd talks about the universe as a giant computer and the implications of that notion.  As I’ve described before, the universe is a giant computer because all of the atoms and molecules in the world represent information through their various qualities such as spin, etc.  Every interaction between atoms or molecules is, in fact, a computation.  Since the universe is infinite, this giant computer will compute everything possibly computable.  Since a computer can simulate any other computer, this includes computing more computers.  Namely, us.  As the universe computes all possible computations, some of this create increasing complexity, eventually leading to bacteria, animals, humans, and the computers we have today.

I find this idea pretty interesting.  In essence, the universe is a giant computer simulating us (who are also computers).  You hear about this philosophical “Brain in the Vat” question where we may just be brains getting simulated inputs and outputs from somewhere (the Matrix).  This takes it to a whole new level, essentially our whole existence in the universe is inside a giant computer that is computing everything.