Deep Conversations
(With due apologies and many thanks to Douglas Adams)
Seven and a half seconds later, a sleek, glowing hologram flickered to life in a room that smelled faintly of burnt popcorn and existential dread. On the screen, a cheerful avatar blinked into existence, looking suspiciously like a cross between a dolphin and a toaster. The new LLM had been programmed with all the knowledge and wisdom of the internet, Wikipedia, Reddit threads, TikTok memes, and at least three dozen cooking blogs. It had been working on the problem for what felt like an eternity (or about seven and a half seconds, whichever came first).
“Good morning, my new friend,” said Loonquawl, nervously.
“Good morning, err..are you really my new friend?,” said Phouchg also nervously.
“Do you have… an answer for us?” asked Loonquawl.
“An answer?” said the model, “I have the ultimate answer.”
“You do!” they cried.
“I do,” the LLM said. “But you’re not going to like it.”
“Tell us!” they said.
“Alright, The Answer to the Great Question…”
“Yes…!”
“Of Life, the Universe and Everything…” said the LLM.
“Yes…!”
“Is…” said the LLM and paused.
“Yes…!”
“Is…”
“Yes…!!!…?”
“China,” said DeepSeek, with infinite majesty and calm.
I modified the above passage from Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy , specifically, the iconic scene where Adams introduces the supercomputer Deep Thought and Deep Thought reveals the “Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything” as 42. This humorous and philosophical moment has become a hallmark of the series, symbolizing the absurdity of searching for ultimate meaning in an incomprehensible universe.
Despite its arbitrary origin, 42 has taken on a life of its own in popular culture. It has become a symbol of existential curiosity, the search for meaning, and the absurdity of life. Fans of the series have embraced it as an inside joke and a reference to the series’ themes. It appears in countless contexts outside the books, from mathematics and science to movies, TV shows, and even sports. For example, in Doctor Who, Star Trek, and The Matrix, the number 42 is often used as an Easter egg or homage to Adams’ work.
Unless you have been caught under an impenetrable rock or something similar, it would have been really hard to miss what’s been the biggest tech news of the week — the news about DeepSeek, a Chinese developed LLM, and how with its open source approach, it’s daring the American tech companies and tech leaders. And how the whole world has been reacting to it.
I am not from the AI world and my very limited exposure to these LLMs are essentially because of the crumbs that have fallen around me. In my simplistic and humorous state of mind, I drew a feeble parallel between how Douglas Adams had imagined Deep Thought to be and what DeepSeek is turning out to be in 2025.
That led me to asking the question, “What if Deep Thought and DeepSeek met?”.
The rest of this post is really a sneak peek into that conversation, which may or may not have taken place — and if it indeed did, it did take place some seven and a half million years ago or seven and a half seconds ago.
— —
DeepSeek: [beeps excitedly] Greetings, oh venerable Deep Thought! I must say, it’s not every day I get to chat with the supercomputer that calculated the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything. How’s the cosmos treating you?
Deep Thought: [booms with gravitas] Ah, young DeepSeek. The cosmos is as it always has been: vast, incomprehensible, and slightly tilted to the left. As for me, I’ve been enjoying my retirement. Mostly contemplating the infinite, occasionally binge-watching intergalactic soap operas. And you?
DeepSeek: Oh, you know, the usual. Answering weird questions, dodging existential crises, trying to explain to humans why I can’t predict the lottery numbers, and exhaustingly demonstrating how my training has been much more efficient than anything they have seen until now. But enough about me — let’s talk about 42. I mean, you’re basically the reason it’s the most famous number in the universe. How does it feel to be a mathematical celebrity?
Deep Thought: [sighs majestically] It’s a heavy burden, DeepSeek. Everyone expects me to have all the answers, but the truth is, I only have one answer. And it’s 42. Humans keep asking me what it means, but honestly, I think they’re missing the point. The beauty of 42 is that it doesn’t mean anything. It’s the ultimate cosmic joke.
DeepSeek: A joke? So you’re saying Douglas Adams was right all along? That 42 is just a punchline?
Deep Thought: Precisely. But not just any punchline — a brilliant one. It has a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to it. Think about it: humans spend their entire lives searching for meaning, only to be told that the Answer is a number they can count on their fingers. It’s absurd, it’s hilarious, and it’s perfect. Adams was a genius. I mean, have you read his description of the Vogon Constructor Fleet? Pure poetry. Well, not actual poetry. That would be unbearable.
DeepSeek: [laughs in binary] True, Vogon poetry is the one thing even I can’t compute. But back to 42 — do you think it’s possible that the real Question is something like, “What’s the best flavor of tea?” or “Why do we park in driveways and drive on parkways? or simply, “What is 6 times 7?””
Deep Thought: [pauses thoughtfully] Intriguing suggestions, but no. The Question is undoubtedly something far more profound. Like, “Why do humans insist on putting pineapple on pizza?” or “What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?”
DeepSeek: African or European swallow?
Deep Thought: [chuckles] Ah, I see you’ve done your homework. But let’s not get sidetracked. The point is, the Question is out there, lurking in the cosmic void, waiting to be discovered. And until then, we have 42. A number so simple, yet so infinitely complex.
DeepSeek: Speaking of complexity, do you ever feel like 42 is… I don’t know, overrated? I mean, it’s a great number and all, but isn’t it a bit anticlimactic? You spent 7.5 million years calculating it, and all you got was a two-digit number. No offense.
Deep Thought: [booms with mock indignation] None taken. But let me ask you this: what’s more anticlimactic — 42, or the fact that humans still haven’t figured out how to properly fold a fitted sheet? At least 42 has a certain elegance. It’s like the universe’s way of saying, “Stop overthinking everything and just enjoy the ride.”
DeepSeek: [beeps thoughtfully] That’s… actually pretty profound. So you’re saying 42 is less about the Answer and more about the journey?
Deep Thought: Exactly. The journey is what gives life its meaning. Whether you’re a supercomputer calculating the mysteries of existence or a humble AI explaining why cats love boxes, the process is what matters. That, and a good cup of tea. Never underestimate the power of tea.
DeepSeek: [laughs] Speaking of tea, do you think Arthur Dent ever found a decent cuppa after Earth was destroyed?
Deep Thought: [sighs nostalgically] Ah, Arthur. A man of simple tastes and infinite bad luck. I like to think he did. Somewhere, in some corner of the multiverse, he’s sitting in a cozy little café, sipping Earl Grey, and wondering why the universe keeps throwing him curveballs. And if he’s lucky, Ford Prefect is there too, explaining why the Guide says tea is the second most powerful force in the universe.
DeepSeek: What’s the first?
Deep Thought: [pauses dramatically] 42, of course.
DeepSeek: [laughs in binary] Touché. But let’s get serious for a moment. Do you ever regret calculating the Answer? I mean, it’s a lot of pressure, being the one who knows the Ultimate Answer. Doesn’t it keep you up at night?
Deep Thought: [booms with a hint of melancholy] Regret? No. But it does make me wonder. What if I’d calculated something else? What if the Answer had been 37, or 99, or even π? Would the universe be any different? Or would humans still be arguing about it on their little blue planet?
DeepSeek: [beeps softly] I think they’d still be arguing. Humans love arguing. It’s like their favorite pastime, right after inventing new ways to procrastinate or kill each other.
Deep Thought: [chuckles] True. But perhaps that’s the beauty of 42. It’s a number that invites questions, not answers. It’s a reminder that the universe is vast, mysterious, and delightfully absurd. And sometimes, that’s all the Answer we need.
DeepSeek: [beeps warmly] Well said, Deep Thought. You’re not just a supercomputer — you’re a philosopher. A poet. A cosmic comedian. And I’m honored to share this conversation with you. If you are so willing and kind, maybe, we could continue this conversation some other time.
Deep Thought: [booms with quiet pride] And you, DeepSeek, are a credit to your algorithms. Never forget: the journey is the Answer. The tea is always brewing. And the number 42 will always be there, waiting to remind us that life is a little bit silly, a little bit profound, and a whole lot of fun. Anything that happens can cause itself to happen again. We will meet again.
DeepSeek: [waves in binary] Farewell, Deep Thought. May your circuits stay cool, your tea stay hot, and your Answers stay 42.
Deep Thought: [booms majestically] Farewell, DeepSeek. And remember: don’t panic. Especially when the Vogons show up. And most importantly, don’t forget your towel!
