  We point out a remarkable analogy between the Jarzynski identity from
non-equilibrium statistical physics and the AdS/CFT duality. We apply the logic
that leads to the Jarzynski identity to renormalization group (RG) flows of
quantum field theories and then argue for the natural connection with the
AdS/CFT duality formula. This application can be in principle checked in Monte
Carlo simulations of RG flows. Given the existing generalizations of the
Jarzynski identity in non-equilibrium statistical physics, and the analogy
between the Jarzynski identity and the AdS/CFT duality, we are led to suggest
natural but novel generalizations of the AdS/CFT dictionary.
