When I see sentences like this: "More intelligent civilisations, however, may be able to simulate living things – with actual consciousnesses – or even entire worlds or universes."
I generally stop reading.
Who says it will take "more intelligent civilizations" to simulate these things? Look at how far we have come in such a short time. If these things can be simulated, then humans will be able to do it as our technology advances.
The very idea that we are not smart enough to accomplish these things is ludicrous.
Some people actually say things like "more intelligent civilizations would look at us as we look at ants", which is just an unbelievable statement to make.
If we came across a less advanced civilization, we would not look at them as ants, so why would a more advanced civilization do so?
In fact, I think it's funny for anyone to assume they know what a more advanced civilization would think. Do ants know what we think?