The why of the simulation is an interesting question. One hypothesis:<p>+ NIs and AIs will always try to find ways to break through glass ceilings of intelligence. They are driven by a never fulfilled thirst for knowledge and engrained with a curiosity instinct.<p>+ An AI will immediately run simulations and set breakpoints on processes that undergo complexity transformations.<p>In other words, we might almost have been spotted. As soon as we build silicon AI the simulation will stop.<p>It explains why we have not been contacted by aliens too. :-)