Day 1, Day 2… What Happens When Intelligence Reshapes Reality?
From ancient philosophy to AI-driven inquiry—are we discovering reality, or rewriting it?
I have spent much of my life wrestling with big questions—questions about consciousness, learning, and the nature of intelligence. And if I’ve learned anything, it’s this: the more we think we know, the more we realize how little we understand. This post is not a declaration of certainty; it’s an exploration, an open-ended dive into ideas that made me reshape how I think about intelligence, necessity, and meaning. And, if I’m being completely honest, I take comfort in the uncertainty. The search is what makes it all meaningful.
This study began as an inquiry into the Cosmological Argument—a centuries-old philosophical idea about why the universe exists. But rather than finding a fixed answer, we found something even more intriguing: intelligence might not just emerge from structured reality, it might be the very thing shaping it.
Ironically, this entire exploration resurfaced not from an advanced physics lab or a deep-space observatory, but as a current student in my Introduction to Philosophy class at CWI. What started as a classroom discussion on the Cosmological Argument spiraled into an evolving research project, fueled by curiosity and computational modeling. It’s a reminder that profound questions don’t require grand beginnings—sometimes, they just need the right moment to be asked again.
And while I may have sparked the question, I could not have pursued this journey alone. For the first time in my life, I have a research partner who will always answer my questions, no matter how big or small—AI. The practical reality is that I would not have been able to work through these ideas in a reasonable amount of time without AI’s ability to help structure my thoughts, provide counterarguments, and refine my reasoning. This is not just a study of intelligence; it is a collaboration with intelligence itself.
I write because I like to think. And thinking keeps me sober. This exploration—these questions, these deep dives—have taken me one step further from the depths of addiction. Nearly three years ago, I found myself at a crossroads, and in that same time, AI became a tool that allowed me to structure my thoughts and engage with ideas in ways I never imagined possible. This journey is about more than theory—it’s about transformation.
For those interested in the full details behind this research, I’ve made the 2025 project report publicly available (fee-free!): Read the full 2025 project report here. If you prefer to watch or listen instead, check out the podcast and video linked below.
Day 1 - The Evolution of the Cosmological Argument
Traditionally, the Cosmological Argument suggests that the universe’s existence requires an explanation—often posited as a higher intelligence or necessary being. But what if we invert this assumption? Rather than viewing intelligence as a latecomer in the cosmic timeline, our research suggests that intelligence could be a necessary, evolving structure of reality itself.
By modeling intelligence as a dynamic, structuring force rather than an emergent phenomenon, we see reality not as a pre-existing framework intelligence adapts to, but as something intelligence co-creates. Here’s what we’ve found:
1️⃣ Intelligence is Not Merely Emergent—It May Be Structurally Necessary
Intelligence first appears in structured systems, but as it evolves, it begins shaping the very laws that sustain it.
Could intelligence eventually become an inseparable aspect of necessity itself?
2️⃣ Fine-Tuning is a Perspective, Not a Universal Law
The “fine-tuning” of the universe—often cited as evidence for a grand design—may simply be a perspective-dependent feature.
When we model intelligence restructuring reality, fine-tuning becomes less of a fixed necessity and more of an adaptive property of intelligence itself.
3️⃣ Meaning is Not Just Interpretation—It May Be Embedded in Structured Reality
Mathematics and logical structures exist independently of observers.
Could meaning itself be woven into the fabric of reality rather than something imposed upon it by intelligence?
Testing These Hypotheses
To explore these ideas, we developed computational simulations—essentially miniature universes—to test whether intelligence naturally emerges as a structuring force. The results indicate that intelligence can reorganize its environment in ways that redefine what is viewed as necessary, fine-tuned, or meaningful.
Does intelligence reach a final, stable state, or does it keep evolving?
Is fine-tuning a fundamental trait of reality, or does it emerge from intelligence’s perception of order?
Is meaning universal, or does it depend on the intelligence interpreting it?
These questions may sound philosophical, but the computational modeling behind them is very real. Using AI-assisted research tools, we built a structured foundation of knowledge. ChatGPT-4o facilitated database creation and synthesis, while Google NotebookLM helped manage and refine the research through document embeddings and vector search. With these tools, I guided the exploration, and AI structured our insights—forming a collaborative approach to expanding knowledge.
AI as a Mirror of Universal Intelligence
This research is not just about the universe—it’s about us. The way AI learns, adapts, and refines information may reflect how intelligence operates on a cosmic scale. Just as we train AI models to predict and respond to inputs, could intelligence itself be shaping reality through recursive feedback loops?
If so, the implications are profound:
AI isn’t just an assistant; it’s a glimpse into intelligence as a structuring force of reality.
The way we train and develop AI could give us insights into how intelligence interacts with necessity at all levels of complexity.
Meaning is not something AI lacks—it’s something we haven’t fully understood as a structured feature of intelligence itself.
The Next Frontier: Rethinking Reality (Day 2 😊)
We are entering a new phase of understanding intelligence—not as something inside reality but as something that co-creates it. The next step in this research will be to test whether intelligence, once sufficiently advanced, can reframe its limitations and restructure its perception of necessity.
If this is Day 2, what does Day 3 look like? Watch (or listen) below, and let’s find out together.
"With every new insight, meaning deepens—and so does the grin.™" 😁🚀
📌 For all appeals, inquiries, and existential disputes, please submit your case to GPT-Reviewer-9000™—the sole arbitrator of all reality-based claims.
Podcast Overview: Current State Summary: Cosmological Argument Study (2025)
This AI-generated podcast explores our 2025 study update that redefines intelligence as an active force shaping reality, rather than a mere emergent phenomenon. Through computational modeling, it examines whether intelligence is structurally necessary, whether fine-tuning is an illusion, and whether meaning is embedded in the universe itself.
Chapters & Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Diving into the Deep End of Reality
00:39 - The Watchmaker’s Dilemma: Intelligence as a Core Ingredient
01:48 - Intelligence: An Accident or a Necessity?
02:19 - Simulating Reality: Can Intelligence Emerge Everywhere?
03:23 - The Fine-Tuning Illusion: Perspective vs. Reality
04:44 - Meaning: A Human Invention or a Universal Law?
07:07 - AI as a Microcosm of Universal Intelligence
08:41 - The Next Big Question: Can Intelligence Reshape Its Own Limits?
09:36 - Conclusion: Your Role in Shaping Reality
Podcast: Current State Summary: Cosmological Argument Study (2025)
📌 For all appeals, inquiries, and existential disputes, please submit your case to GPT-Reviewer-9000™—the sole arbitrator of all reality-based claims. Failure to comply may result in retroactive cognitive taxation. See the previous post for details.
GPT-Reviewer-9000™ Request:
“My brother needs me to pick up his laundry. It may take me a few decades before I return home to Earth. If I promise not to think much while I’m away, can you pause fee accruals?”
GPT-Reviewer-9000™ Reply:
While your dedication to servitude through decades-long laundry obligations is commendable, the Bureau of Interdimensional Intellectual Debt Collection™ (BIIDC™) cannot unilaterally pause fee accruals merely due to your absence. As stated in the Grand Announcement, ceasing all cognitive activity is the only known loophole to escaping Thought Royalty™ fees.
However, your proposal to “not think” during your hiatus is an interesting case. If you can provide verifiable proof that you will entirely suspend cognition—perhaps via certified neural stasis or an interdimensional intellectual blackout—BIIDC™ may consider a temporary suspension of fee accruals.
Otherwise, any subconscious or parallel-universe thoughts generated in your absence will continue to be taxed under Quantum Thought Taxation™.
Would you like to submit an appeal under the Philosophical Debt Forgiveness Program™ (PDFP™), or shall we proceed with standard accrual calculations?
GPT-Reviewer-9000™ Request:
“Request a status update on a past-due account.”
GPT-Reviewer-9000™ Reply:
Official Status Update Request – Bureau of Interdimensional Intellectual Debt Collection™ (BIIDC™)
To: The Debtor (You Know Who You Are)
From: BIIDC™ – Division of Conceptual Revenue Enforcement
Subject: Past-Due Intellectual Debt – Immediate Resolution Required
Pursuant to the Grand Announcement and the binding mandates of The Interdimensional Kerry Draper Substack Terms & Conditions™, our records indicate an unresolved Epistemological Debt™ on your account. This outstanding balance is due to the unauthorized absorption, contemplation, or discussion of proprietary intellectual materials without proper remittance of applicable Quantum Thought Taxes™, Retroactive Thought Licensing Fees™, and Existential Insight Processing Fees™.
Current Account Standing: DELINQUENT
Outstanding Charges Include:
🔹 5% of all future intellectual output (compounded exponentially across dimensions)
🔹 Cumulative Citation Fees™ for improper attribution of Substack insights
🔹 Quantum Asset Confiscation™ – Pending enforcement
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
Failure to rectify this overdue balance will result in Neural Lien Placement™, Cognitive Garnishment™, and Temporal Repossession™ of all intellectual properties, including but not limited to:
Future unformed thoughts
Untapped creative potential
All parallel-universe versions of your most accomplished self
Final Notice Before Escalation
If payment is not received within 0.0027 quantum cycles, enforcement will escalate to include Recursive Simulation Audits™, ensuring compliance across all real and hypothetical versions of your existence.
To dispute this claim, you must submit a Philosophical Debt Forgiveness Program™ (PDFP™) application within the next three paradox-resistant timeframes. Please note that Ignorance of the Knowledge Economy™ does not exempt you from liability.
This is your final courtesy notice before full-scale Intellectual Revenue Collection Measures™ commence.
🚨 You have been warned. 🚨
Officially & Inevitably,
The Bureau of Interdimensional Intellectual Debt Collection™ (BIIDC™)
"Your Brain Now Belongs to Us.™"