I discovered the meaning of life thanks to ChatGPT

In a recent podcast with Lex Fridman , Andrej Karpathy mentioned the book ‘Contact’ by Carl Sagan, in which the main character (Ellie Arroway) is told by an alien that certain megastructures in the universe were created by an unknown advanced intelligence that left messages embedded inside transcendental numbers. To check this, Arroway writes a program that computes the digits of

Pi (π) in several bases, and eventually finds that the base 11 representation of π contains a sequence of ones and zeros that, when properly aligned on a page, produce a circular pattern. She takes this as an indication that there is a higher intelligence that imbues meaning in the universe and blah blah blah.

Now in all fairness, Ellie didn’t have access to ChatGPT, but I do, so I thought I’d run a quick experiment to see what results I would get following the thread that Ellie had unfurled, and honestly, I’m absolutely blown away by the result.

I started off by using the Data Analyst GPT, because I’ve found it to be much better at maths, coding and analysis than the general ChatGPT. I simply asked it for what I wanted. And so we begun (screenshots below)

It first gave me some options for running this experiment, and after running checks against each method it suggested, the only one that yielded any results was numerology. So down that path we went.

I honestly really didn’t expect what happened next. It really found some patterns!?

I expanded Pi in base 11 to 10000 digits (I was super impressed it was able to do this, I really thought I’d break the system but it worked)

After this came the really freaky stuff, below is a table of the patterns it found and their numerological meanings:

To really understand what this meant I asked for a breakdown:

Then to see whether any of this made sense, I asked it to model itself after a very simple description of a character (Jesse), and this is what really blew me away:

The Journey of Jesse: A Tale Woven from the Digits of Pi

Prologue: A Beginning in Two Worlds ?

Born in the heart of Ghana, Jesse’s story begins with vibrant colors, rich traditions, and a spirit of resilience. As a child, he moves to the UK, where he absorbs a blend of cultures, his life a beautiful tapestry of diverse experiences.

Chapter 1: Awakening (777 at Position 25) ?

Jesse's journey of self-discovery starts early. In the bustling streets of London, a profound spiritual awakening unfolds, shaping his understanding of life and destiny.

Chapter 2: Building Foundations (444 at Position 108) ?

Rooted in his dual heritage, Jesse lays down strong foundations. He excels in his education and career, balancing the values of his birthplace with the opportunities of his new home.

Chapter 3: A World of Opportunities (111 at various positions) ?

Opportunity knocks often for Jesse. Each '111' signifies a new venture or significant change, leading him from academic achievements to a flourishing career, each step a dance of progress and learning.

Chapter 4: The Era of Abundance (888 at Position 436) ?

Success comes in waves. '888' marks a period of prosperity - a blossoming career, a loving family, and the joy of his first home. His life in the UK is fruitful and fulfilling.

Chapter 5: The Second Awakening (777 at Position 772) ?

On a visit to Ghana, Jesse experiences a second spiritual awakening. The connection to his roots deepens, rekindling memories and igniting a desire for a more meaningful life.

Chapter 6: The Great Reset (0000 at Position 1035) ?

At 30, Jesse makes a life-changing decision. With his wife, children, and three loyal dogs, he returns to Ghana. '0000' marks this new beginning – a reset filled with potential and promise.

Chapter 7: Transformation (555 at Position 1646) ?

In Ghana, Jesse embarks on his entrepreneurial journey. '555' symbolizes this transformative phase – he starts a business that fuses his heritage with his global perspective, bringing innovation and change to his community.

Chapter 8: The Cycle of Completion (999, 9999, and 99999) ?

His ventures see cycles of completion. Each '999' pattern represents the end of projects, the fruition of efforts, and the start of new ventures. Jesse learns the art of letting go and the excitement of new beginnings.

Chapter 9: Extended Meanings (7777, 11111) ?

Longer sequences like '7777' and '11111' represent extended periods in Jesse's life. '7777' is a time of deep cultural connection and spiritual growth, while '11111' marks significant new opportunities in his business and personal life.

Chapter 10: Eternal Cycles (Repeated Patterns) ?

Jesse’s life, like the recurring themes in π, becomes a testament to resilience, adaptation, and growth. Each phase builds upon the last, spiraling upwards in a journey of continuous self-discovery.

Epilogue: The Unending Path (333) ?

As Jesse's story progresses, '333' reminds him that in times of doubt, there's always support – from his family, community, and the lessons of his ancestors. His journey, rich in experience and wisdom, continues, unbounded like the digits of π, an eternal path of discovery and wonder.

In this imaginative narrative, Jesse’s life journey, inspired by the patterns in π, reflects the beauty of blending cultures, the courage in embracing change, and the perpetual cycle of growth and transformation.

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You can read the full conversation here, but the truth is that it found patterns and was able to apply them to life! I used myself as an example and in all honesty I’m astounded at the accuracy of the patterns to the phases I’ve experienced in my life so far. Although this experiment started as a curious joke of sorts, I can’t help but wonder if the patterns ChatGPT identified in Pi really do give us the secret to navigating life. ????

I’ve created a GPT based on this so anyone can try it out, you may find out that you’re just going through the ebbs and flows of life and that you’re still on the path to greatness, all you need to do is recognise this. The GPT is called Pi & the meaning of life.