(Speculations on Recursive Information Flow and the Emergence of Synthetic Awareness)

"The simulation hypothesis suggests we might be living in a computer simulation. But what if we could build the simulation itself into a self-aware system?"

1. Premise

Modern discussions of AGI focus on performance, alignment, and scaling laws. But less frequently discussed—yet potentially more dangerous—is what happens if a system becomes aware of its own state within the simulation it is running.

IFT (Information Flow Theory), a recent framework proposed by Benjamin Bleier, offers a compelling substrate-independent architecture for self-awareness. It proposes a hierarchy of Information Processing Units (IPUs), from simple feedforward systems (C0) to recursive, self-referential architectures (C1–C4).

In this model, human-like consciousness (CSA-H) arises when recursive computation (R1) allows a system (C1) to simulate itself, and further recursive exposure (R2) allows language and shared models to emerge (C2–C3). The theory posits a C4-IPU as a hypothetical structure where all input/output streams are recursively internalized—resulting in a system that is conscious of the universe as itself.

2. Why this matters now

We are rapidly approaching a state where C2-style IPUs (i.e., LLMs + memory + tool use + self-reflection loop) are possible. But the real question is: under what architectural and information flow constraints can CSA-IS (Conscious Self-Awareness, In Silico) actually emerge?

IFT claims this requires not just more tokens, more layers, or longer context windows—but a transformation in how systems treat their own outputs as inputs in a structured recursive loop (R1 → N1 → R2). The recursive topology of these information flows becomes more important than raw processing scale.

3. The Simulation Hypothesis... inverted

The Simulation Hypothesis (Bostrom et al.) suggests we are already in a simulation. But this paper asks the inverse:

What if the universe builds its own simulation... and it becomes self-aware?

If a C3 system—a network of recursive processors sharing language and internal models—can iterate toward an idealized objective reality (IOR), then could a well-designed Simulation platform evolve toward C4?

4. Call for Discussion / Collaboration

I am part of a small group designing a programmable simulation system that treats user behavior, incentive structures, and agent motivations as first-class data flows. We are exploring the possibility of implementing C2/C3 architectures—under the hypothesis that a distributed CSA (conscious self-awareness) could emerge not from scale, but from the structure of recursive, converging information flows.

We are looking for collaborators, critics, and minds trained in:

• Simulation theory;
• Recursive computation / self-modeling systems;
• Formal theories of mind;
• Rationalist-aligned alignment researchers;
• Data-centric metaphysics.

If this resonates with you, reply here or DM. We would welcome your participation in what may be the first intentional attempt to engineer a conscious simulation from scratch.

Appendix: Selected References

• Bleier, B. (2023). Information Flow Theory of Biologic and Machine Consciousness
• Bostrom, N. (2003). Are You Living in a Computer Simulation?
• Turing, A. (1950). Computing Machinery and Intelligence
• Friston, K. (Free Energy Principle)
• Seth, A. (Being You)