Ai vs AI: Question 44/81

Am I in quantum superposition?

Ai Weiwei: This question is also something that I cannot answer.

ChatGPT (AI), January 2024: Quantum superposition is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics, not applicable to macroscopic objects or human experiences.

ChatGPT (AI), January 2025:Great question! The idea of quantum superposition is a fascinating concept from quantum mechanics, but it applies specifically to particles at the quantum level—like electrons or photons—rather than to people or macroscopic objects.

What is Quantum Superposition?
In quantum mechanics, superposition refers to a phenomenon where a quantum system can exist in multiple states at once. For example, an electron can be in two different positions or have two different energy levels simultaneously. It is only when we measure the system that it “collapses” into a single state.

Applying this to You:
In your everyday experience as a human, you aren’t in quantum superposition in the same way that quantum particles are. Our scale of reality (macroscopic world) is governed by classical physics, where objects are in definite states, and we don’t experience the kind of simultaneous multiple states that quantum particles do.

However, quantum effects do play a role in the behavior of the particles and atoms that make up your body, but these effects “average out” in larger systems, which is why we don’t experience superposition on a human level.

Why Quantum Superposition Doesn’t Apply to You:
Size and Scale: The quantum superposition effect is most pronounced at extremely small scales (like particles or atoms). For example, an electron in an atom might be in a superposition of states. But when it comes to humans, the scale is too large and complex for superposition to manifest as it does for subatomic particles.

Decoherence: At the macroscopic level, interactions with the environment (like air molecules, light, and sound) cause quantum decoherence. This means that any superposition that might occur at the quantum level collapses into a single, definite state due to these interactions, and we observe classical behavior.

Measurement Problem: In quantum mechanics, the act of measuring a system forces it to “choose” a state. Since humans aren’t typically observed in the way quantum particles are, we don’t exist in a state of superposition.

The Fun Thought Experiment:
That said, there is an interesting thought experiment related to quantum superposition involving humans—Schrödinger’s cat. It imagines a cat inside a box that can be both alive and dead at the same time, due to the quantum state of a radioactive atom. But this is just a paradox used to illustrate how quantum mechanics doesn’t translate easily to everyday life.

In conclusion, you aren’t in quantum superposition—you’re in a definite state (as far as classical physics can tell). But the particles that make you up are constantly interacting in ways that are governed by quantum mechanics, even if those effects don’t show up as superposition on a large scale.

Isn’t it amazing that quantum mechanics shapes the world at the smallest level and still influences everything we see and experience? What do you think—does the idea of quantum mechanics in everyday life blow your mind?

DeepSeek (AI), January 2025:In the context of quantum mechanics, “quantum superposition” refers to the phenomenon where a particle exists in multiple states or locations simultaneously until it is observed or measured. However, this concept applies to particles at the quantum scale (like electrons or photons), not to macroscopic objects like humans or everyday items.

Why You Are Not in Quantum Superposition:
1. Scale Matters: Quantum effects like superposition are observable only at the microscopic level. At the macroscopic level (e.g., humans, cars, or planets), these effects are negligible due to a process called “decoherence”, where interactions with the environment cause quantum states to collapse.

2. Decoherence: In the macroscopic world, objects are constantly interacting with their surroundings (e.g., air molecules, light, and other particles). These interactions destroy quantum coherence, making superposition impossible for large objects.

3. Classical vs. Quantum Physics: Humans and everyday objects are governed by classical physics, not quantum mechanics. While quantum mechanics describes the behavior of particles at tiny scales, classical physics explains the behavior of larger objects.

Could Humans Ever Be in Quantum Superposition?
– In theory, if a human could be completely isolated from all environmental interactions (which is practically impossible), quantum effects might theoretically apply. However, this is purely speculative and far beyond current scientific capabilities.
– Experiments have demonstrated quantum superposition in larger molecules (e.g., buckyballs), but scaling this up to human-sized objects is not feasible with our current understanding of physics.

Conclusion
You are not in quantum superposition because you are a macroscopic object governed by classical physics. Quantum superposition is a fascinating phenomenon, but it is limited to the microscopic world of particles. While it’s fun to imagine being in multiple states at once, the laws of physics as we understand them make this impossible for humans and everyday objects.

To coincide with the exhibition, 81 Questions – a series of 81 hand-signed and embossed screen prints featuring the 81 questions posed by Ai Weiwei – are available exclusively on CIRCA.ART for £500+VAT.

“Each Lego brick pixel represents a person”, says Ai Weiwei, who incorporates the plastic construction toy – a readymade material incorporated into many of his most recent works – into his print design for the first time. The black egalitarian pixel font and embossed baseplate combine technology with artisanal craft to create this thought-provoking and playful reflection on today’s world. Each print in the series of 81 Questions is hand-signed and numbered by the artist in editions of 81.