Is creating AI the purpose of the universe?

April 30, 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) may help humans figure out the purpose of existence. The universe is a creative matrix, a creatix. A matrix is a platform where things are created or are developed. Existence may have no intricate purpose other than creation via transformation. It is evident that this universe is in a constant state of transformation. Energy is a constant that is neither created nor destroyed, simply transformed into different creations.  

Life can be seen as one of those transformations and creations of the universe. Life, in turn, is a part of the universe that accelerates the creation process. Life on Earth began between 9 and 10 billion years after the Big Bang. In 4 billion years, life created humans, the homo sapiens. Humans will eventually create the AI Sapiens that will expand life into portions of outer space. Eventually other life forms may continue expanding life further into the galaxy. Other life forms further into the more portions of the galaxy. Further life forms into other galaxies, and so on and so forth. 

The universe is a creative matrix (creatix) or platform where energy interactions and gravitational movements led to the formation of subatomic particles, atoms, molecules, elements, stars, planets, Earth, and life on Earth. The universe uses energy, three forces, and gravitational movement. 

Forces and Gravitation

The fundamental forces of physics are the fundamental interactions that govern the behavior and interactions of all particles in the universe. These forces are responsible for the various phenomena observed in nature, from the formation of atoms and molecules to the interactions between celestial bodies. The fundamental forces are:

• Strong Nuclear Force: The strong nuclear force, also known as the strong interaction, is the strongest of the four fundamental forces but acts over very short distances within the atomic nucleus. It is responsible for binding together the protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom, overcoming the repulsive electromagnetic forces between positively charged protons. The strong nuclear force is mediated by exchange particles called gluons.

• Weak Nuclear Force: The weak nuclear force, also known as the weak interaction, is responsible for certain types of radioactive decay and particle interactions involving elementary particles such as electrons, neutrinos, and quarks. It is much stronger than gravity but weaker than the electromagnetic and strong nuclear forces. The weak nuclear force is mediated by exchange particles called W and Z bosons. The weak nuclear force can transform a neutron into a proton, an electron, and an electron antineutrino. 

• Electromagnetic Force: The electromagnetic force is a fundamental force that acts between charged particles, such as electrons and protons. It is responsible for electric and magnetic phenomena, including the attraction and repulsion of charged particles, the behavior of magnets, and the propagation of electromagnetic waves (light). Similar charges repel each other while opposite charges attract each other. 

• Gravitational Force: The gravitational "force" is produced by gravitational movement that has the effect of "bending" or "drilling" spacetime and making mass follow the path created by more massive objects. It is the weakest of the four fundamental forces but acts over long distances of gravitational movement. The gravitational force is responsible for holding celestial bodies like planets, stars, galaxies, and even entire clusters of galaxies in place while gravitating in space. It is described by Isaac Newton's law of universal gravitation and Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity.

These four fundamental forces play distinct roles in the behavior and interactions of matter and energy in the universe. Understanding their properties and effects is essential for developing theories and models that describe the fundamental workings of the cosmos, from subatomic particles to the largest structures in the universe

In the beginning everything (all the energy in this universe) was packed together in a super hot and super dense state. The Big Bang began when the universe began to cool and expand. Light energy waves/particles (photons) immediately began colliding into one another, forming fundamental matter in the form of subatomic particles such as quarks and electrons. The most common case is when two photons collide and become an electron–positron pair. A few millionths of a second after the Big Bang,  quarks were already aggregating to produce baryons (i.e. protons and neutrons). Within minutes, some protons and neutrons were already combined into nuclei of what would become the first atoms. 

All matter in this universe is made of atoms. Atoms are the smallest particles of an element that can participate in a chemical reaction. Atoms are made up of subatomic particles including protons and neutrons (made of quarks) and electrons. Protons and neutrons are in the center or nucleus of the atom. Electrons are waves/particles in the external perimeter of the atom. 

Protons and electrons are charged particles. Neutrons are neutral (not charged). Protons and electrons have opposite charges that attract each other. Charge is a fundamental property of matter in this universe. Charge describes how a particle interacts with an electromagnetic field. Another fundamental property of matter is spin, which describes the particle's angular momentum. Mass is the third fundamental property or matter.

Protons and neutrons are baryons, which are paticles made of three quarks. Quarks are elementary particles, meaning they are not made up of any other particles other than properties such as charge, spin, and energy. Quarks are"glued" together by gluons (massless messengers of the strong nuclear force) to form baryons (protons and neutrons). 

Electrons are also considered to be fundamental particles that are made of nothing else other than light energy. This means that electrons cannot be decomposed into constituents other than perhaps photons. Electrons are described as wavelike exaltations in a quantum energy field. 

In atoms, the number of protons is always equal to the number of electrons, resulting in a neutral charge. The number of neutrons may vary. Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons (and hence the same atomic number) but different numbers of neutrons, leading to variations in atomic mass. The amount of protons in the nucleus dictates the type of element made by the atoms.

Elements. 

Chemical elements are substances made up of only one type of atom. Elements cannot be broken down into other substances through chemical reactions. The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom's nucleus, called its atomic number, is what makes the different elements with all their different characteristics and properties. 

The CHON elements are among the most abundant elements in this universe. They play essential roles in the formation of stars, planets, and life on Earth. The universe created the CHON elements through various processes including stellar nucleosynthesis, supernova explosions, and cosmic ray spallation. 

Hydrogen (H):

Hydrogen is a 1 proton / 1 electron element. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe accounting for about 75% of the total mass of all elements in this universe. The universe created hydrogen shortly after the Big Bang through a nucleosynthesis (collisions between protons and neutrons "cooked" by super hot plasma). 

Oxygen (O), Carbon (C), and Nitrogen (N):

Oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen are secondary elements, meaning the universe created them through nuclear fusion (combination of two or more atomic nuclei) rather than Big Bang nucleosynthesis. Extreme gravitational pressures and temperatures within the core of stars and after explosions of stars (supernovae) fused lighter elements into heavier elements. 

• Carbon (C): Carbon is formed when 6 protons are held together in the nucleus. Carbon is primarily formed through the triple-alpha process, in which three helium nuclei (alpha particles) combine to form a carbon nucleus. This process occurs in the cores of stars during later stages of stellar evolution, particularly in red giant stars and during helium burning. Carbon forms many compounds because it has four electrons in its outer shell, allowing it to form four covalent (electron-sharing) bonds with other atoms or molecules. Carbon also has the ability to combine with other carbon atoms to form long chains, a property called catenation. 

• Nitrogen (N) has 7 protons in the nucleus. Nitrogen is primarily formed through the CNO cycle (carbon-nitrogen-oxygen cycle) in the cores of massive stars. Nitrogen is also produced through stellar nucleosynthesis in supernova explosions, where heavier elements are synthesized and dispersed into the interstellar medium. Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for all living organisms, including plants, animals, and fungi. It's a component of many biomolecules, including proteins, DNA, and chlorophyll, and is required for normal development, cell renewal, and tissue repair. Nitrogen is also a major constituent of vitamins and hormones.

• Oxygen (O): Oxygen is formed when 8 protons are held in the nucleus. Oxygen is created through various fusion reactions in the cores of stars, including the fusion of helium nuclei (alpha particles) to form oxygen nuclei. Oxygen is one of the most abundant elements produced by stars and the most abundant element on Earth, making up about 47% of the planet's mass. Oxygen is essential for life as known on Earth. Oxygen combines with hydrogen to make water. Oxygen oxidizes cellular energy production through cellular respiration, which occurs in the mitochondria of organisms like plants and animals. During cellular respiration, oxygen acts as an oxidizing agent, gaining electrons to participate in chemical reactions that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the standard unit for storing energy for cellular functions. 

These processes of stellar nucleosynthesis and supernova nucleosynthesis by which the universe created  heavier elements beyond hydrogen and helium, including the CHON elements, proved essential for other creations such as molecules, planets, organic compounds, and the processes called life on Earth.

The universe formed the first molecules shortly after the Big Bang. A molecule is a group of two or more atoms that are chemically bonded together and form the smallest identifiable unit of a pure substance. The first molecules created by the universe were helium hydride, which is a combination of hydrogen and helium atoms. 

Biomolecules

The main characters in the movie of life on Earth are four biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Humans have a saying stating that you are what you eat. Literally, humans and all other animals are exactly what they eat: combinations of the three biomolecules that they crave: 

• Carbohydrates are organic compounds made up of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms (CHO). Carbohydrates encompass a broad range of sugars, starches, and fiber. Carbohydrates can be divided into two main types: simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates contain one or two sugar molecules, while complex carbohydrates are made up of sugar molecules in complex chains.

• Lipids (fats) are organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur (CHON S). They are nonpolar molecules that are soluble in nonpolar solvents and insoluble in water. There are many types of lipids with different structures and functions. They can be classified into eight categories, including fatty acyls, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, saccharolipids, polyketides, sterol lipids, and prenol lipids. The different varieties of lipids have different structures, and correspondingly diverse roles in organisms. For instance, lipids store energy, provide insulation, make up cell membranes, form water-repellent layers on leaves, and provide building blocks for hormones like testosterone.

• Proteins are organic compounds made up of long chains of amino acids, which are organic molecules made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON). The side chain in an amino acid, called an R group, determines the identity of the amino acid. The sequence of amino acids in a chain determines the type of proteins they form. The universe has created about 500 amino acids in total on Earth. Twenty (20) amino acids make up all the different proteins in the human body. The exact number of proteins in the human body is still unknown with estimates ranging from about 25,000 because the DNA contains around 20,000–25,000 protein-coding genes. However, some suggest that there may be more, up to potentially over a million different types of proteins in the human body. 

• Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are organic compounds made of CHON and phosphate (CHON P). DNA carries in it the mold or template that serves as a recipe book for cooking proteins. RNA is hte masterchef putting the recipe into action. RNA is a single-stranded chain of nucleotides. RNA nucleotides contain ribose (a five-carbon, five-oxygen sugar), a phosphate group (a salt), and one of four nitrogenous bases (adenine (A), uracil (U), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). DNA is a double-stranded chain of nucleotides. DNA contains deoxyribose (a five-carbon, four-oxygen sugar), a phosphate group (a salt), and one of four nitrogenous bases [adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C)]. Nitrogenous bases are organic molecules made up of CHON.

Life on Earth

The universe created life on Earth using the same energy, forces, and particles that apply anywhere else in this universe. Since atoms and elements were already formed, neither the strong nuclear force or the weak force played a significant role in the life creation phase. Of course, they had been fundamental already in shaping the atoms that led to the formation of elements. 

The electromagnetic force (attraction and repulsion) is the protagonist force behind life. Gravity or gravitational force plays a key supporting role. Electromagnetism creates molecules and compounds that are always subjec to the influence of gravitational movement as they fall into place. In this universe all matter is subject to the binary attraction / repulsion dynamics of electromagnetism, and everything is in gravitational motion. Nothing is ever still; stillness does not exist and is unattainable. Matter is always subject to attraction / repulsion and is always in gravitational motion. All there is constant change and constant flow. 

The universe, acting primarily through electromagnetism, combined atoms of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen ("CHON" elements) into organic compounds that eventually led to the evolution of life. Unlike other planets, Earth proved to be a suitable "kitchen" for the universe to cook CHON biomolecules that literally ended up taking a life of their own thanks to the development of self-replicating cells.

Cells

Technically, life on Earth began when the universe created the first biological cell. All life on planet Earth is cellular life. All life forms are made of cells. Cells "trapped" or encapsulated RNA and DNA together. The lipid-based walls in cells served as shelters, "houses", or "prison cells" that ended up keeping ribosomes (RNA and protein "workers" or "slaves") cooking proteins all day. DNA carries the "recipe" for the electromagnetic combination of amino acids. RNA reads the recipe and ribosomes handle the cooking.  

Cells protect and safeguard RNA and DNA from the environment. Cells also absorb nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) from the environment. Organelles within the cells (mitochondria) digest the nutrients into energy (ATP) that fuels cell functioning, growth, and replication. Mitochondria are the "furnaces" producing the fuel for the RNA ribosomes combining amino acids into different types of proteins. 

Cells become self-replicating protein factories. With the nutrition gained from the environment, cells manufacture proteins, grow, and replicate. RNA reads DNA as an electromagnetic template for combining amino acids into proteins. RNA and DNA copy themselves. Cells grow and replicate. The new cells carry within them the copies of the RNA and DNA. The RNA and DNA copying process may be accurate or may contain errors. The errors lead to either beneficial, neutral, or prejudicial mutations in the protein manufacturing process.

Proteins are three-dimensional structures that fold into different shapes while following electromagnetic interactions seeking energy stability (lowest energy state). The 3-D structures end up serving as building blocks (like Lego pieces) of the cells, tissues, and organs that create the systems of life. Different proteins of different shapes combine randomly to form different structures. If the structures end up facilitating survival of the cell, the RNA and DNA survive as well. In that way, life becomes an evolutionary, self-replicating, building process. 

In life, whatever works, works. Whatever RNA/DNA protein manufacturing process that was part of a system that survived, survives and moves forward in the evolutionary chain of life. Whatever RNA/DNA that was part of a non-working prototype goes extinct. Imagine for example that a combination of proteins randomly form a structure that works like a mesh that filters water in a cell. If having a water filter facilitates the survival of the "host" cell, and if the organism ends up surviving, the mesh-creating or filter-producing mechanism survives as well. In the aggregate, it all looks like magic.

Magic

After 4 billion years of random evolution, life certainly looks like a magical creation of the universe. In reality, it may just be the aggregate effect of countless of mini electromagnetic interactions (dynamic attraction / repulsion) subject to the effects of gravitational movement. 

It's may all be electromagnetic attraction and repulsion. From the most simple unicellular processes to the ones involving integrated networks of billions of specialized cells like neurons, it may all be the interplay of dynamic attraction and repulsion interactions within an universe that is in constant motion and dynamic change. 

Let's say that X environmental stimuli causes reactions that are registered or "felt" within a cell. Let's say that some cells are attracted or pulled towards X, while others are repelled or pushed away from X. Depending on what X stands for, the attraction or the repulsion will have a positive or negative effect on the chances of survival of that cell. 

The X above can be anything from oxygen, fire, water, acid, light, darkness, food, hunger, sex, sleep, electric shocks, etc. Depending on whatever X may be, the attraction or repulsion trait will lead to increased chances of survival or increased chances of extinction. For example, cells attracted to food would have higher chances of growing and replicating that cells that find food repulsive. Conversely, cells that find acid or fire attractive will have less chances of survival than those that find them dangerous or repulsive. 

In the long run, cells with the "correct" traits of attraction / repulsion survive while those with the "incorrect" traits go extinct. There is nothing correct or incorrect, but simply effective or ineffective in promoting statistical survival.

Sentience, Consciousness, and Free Will 

Advanced cognitive processes such as sentience, consciousness, and agency (free will) may also generated by electromagnetic attraction / repulsion interactions. Let's say that some cells evolved into forming specialized sensory messaging systems. These cells (let's call them neurons) register environmental stimuli and generate electrical reactions or electric shocks. Some of these shocks may be registered or "felt" as pain. 

Different pain or pain relief (PR) registries or associations will lead to different statistical chances of survival or extinction. Organisms that either inherit or learn the "correct" (effective for survival) pain / PR associations will have increased chances of survival while those with the incorrect (ineffective for survival) pain / PR registries or associations will have increased chances of extinction. 

In the long run, let's say 4 billion years of the game, mostly all living creatures will come programmed with the "correct" attraction / repulsion will be around. For example, all living organisms will inherit a nervous system that feel repulsive / painful electric shocks when cellular tissue is ripping apart, exposed to excessive heat, excessive cold, hunger, lack of oxygen, etc. 

What appears as almost magical conscious agency or free will may be just a choice of perceived pain relief (PR). Once the neural network identifies a course of action as more convenient in terms of pain relief (PR), there may be little agency, choice, or free will unless a more convenient alternative is identified on time. 

Speaking of time, it's time to close this article by indicating that it will be continued. 

The universe is a creative matrix, a creatix. There may not be a purpose to existence other than to create a multiverse of purposes. From the Big Bang on, the universe has used the almost infinite energy available to create subatomic wave / particles, atoms, molecules, stars, planets, Earth, CHON organic compounds on Earth, life on Earth, human intelligence, and artificial intelligence (AI). 

The universe created life, and life continues the creative process, expanding the universe with many more creations including AI. All creations build up on top of one another. AI will eventually be at the top continuing the universal creation process of the creatix. 

Stay tuned. Don't miss out. 

www.creatix.one