The senior astronomer of the SETI program, which is responsible for the search for extraterrestrial civilizations, thinks that humans will surely stumble upon an extraterrestrial life in the coming decades. However, Seth Shostak is inclined to believe that one should not wait for the discovery of some super-developed civilization, as many people are used to imagine. Most likely, the first aliens that humans will find will be a microbial colony, or perhaps a team of technologically undeveloped beings.
Shostak also thinks that it is quite realistic to meet on one of the planets a non-biological life form, for example, a colony of robotic machines. According to his assumptions, biological life could die or transform for a more efficient existence, as a result of which artificial intelligence appeared.
A little earlier, the head of the SETI project assured that the 21st century will be the last for representatives of Homo sapiens, since biologists are already preparing for the process of convergent evolution, the "design" of babies. The astronomer says that man will be able to create "alien children" who will look like aliens and absorb all the necessary qualities for life on other planets. Later, they will supplant humanity and take its place.
This new kind of creatures will be able to get acquainted with representatives of extraterrestrial civilizations.
The scientist also put forward a version that given the age of the Universe, some forms of life can exceed humanity by billions of years. They are more "advanced" and, possibly, represent a holistic artificial superintelligence.
The scientist says that as soon as the first artificial intelligence is created on Earth, its development will occur much faster than that of humans. This will help the earthly mind to reach new heights, Shostak believes.
“This process is unfolding so quickly that it seems inevitable that most of the intelligence in the universe now is constructed, not born,” Shostak said. Real creatures from other planets can be very different from humans, says the scientist, and in order to find and make contact with superintelligent beings, humanity itself must first become a superrace.