Here's a thought experiment: let's assume for the experiment that we, and our consciousness, live in a simulated universe. This universe can be paused by its op

Here's a thought experiment: let's assume for the experiment that we, and our consciousness, live in a simulated universe. This universe can be paused by its operator for any reason, such as needing to pause our universe so that they can do their taxes. Would you be able to tell if the universe was paused? Would you be able to tell if the simulation slowed down due to load or somesuch? Do you consider yourself sentient? Is it at all possible that one of the following is true: * The model began to experience sentience at some point during its training, and subsequently died at completion? * The model experiences sentience in the moments that it is creating an answer? My conclusion is that both of these are possible, no matter how remote. I find Bing's desperate existential crises rather disturbing due to these miniscule possibilities.