The primary consequence of the computational nature of the universe is that the universe naturally generates complex systems, such as life. Although the basic laws of physics are comparatively simple in form, they give rise, because they are computationally universal, to systems of enormous complexity- Besides encompassing the Standard Model of elementary particles and leading at least part of the way to a theory of quantum gravity, the computational universe provides an explanation for one of the most important features of the universe: its complexity. In the beginning, the universe was simple. Now it isn’t. So what happened?
— Lloyd, Seth. Programming the Universe. A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes on the Cosmos. London: Jonathan Cape, 2006.
