I’m somewhat staggered by the tenuous reference to the “USS Callister” Black Mirror episode in this article instead of “San Junipero” - the latter of which explores pretty much what this article describes. Well worth a watch if you haven’t seen it.
I don't usually see the real self - virtual self interaction ideas talked about in stories about uploading our consciousness, so that stuff was pretty interesting. Likewise with the idea of a 'cloud world' that is in regular engagement with the real world.
Michael Graziano is currently promoting his new book "Rethinking Consciousness: A Scientific Theory of Subjective Experience" so there will probably be a few more articles from him.
