Question: but what proof do we have that we are actually real. we could be being controlled by another force so what proof is there that we aren't

Hey asdfghjkl,
If this is in line with the movie “The Matrix”, then to be honest, there is no way of knowing for sure!”
It was a great movie, and it had a really clever and great idea/point that it made.
It’s probably best not to get too into thinking about this, and to actually go out and live life rather than get more and more worried about whether this life is “real”…
Whatever it is, it’s most likely our one chance of doing something/ living.

One can also say, even though science has not proven certain things, belief is what drives scientists as well as humanity.