World science has been searching for extraterrestrial life forms for many decades. Scientists suggest that aliens with a high degree of probability may be artificial intelligence
Until recently, while searching for extraterrestrial civilizations, scientists assumed that aliens could be organic substances. Recent research suggests that the alien intelligence that humanity faces could be artificial. Meanwhile, for over 100 years, mankind has been constantly sending messages into space to declare its existence.
This year alone, a TV signal sent into space with information about the Olympic Games held in 1936 in Nazi Germany has passed not far from several planets that scientists believe are potentially habitable. The 1936 Olympic Games were the world's first massive event shown on television. The signal passed close to Earth-like exoplanets outside the solar system.
The first season of the television series "Game of Thrones", according to scientists, has already reached the star located at the closest distance from the Sun. However, the aliens still have not sent any response signal to humanity. Scientists explain the lack of reaction with several hypotheses:
- the absence of creatures in the immediate vicinity of the solar system, which in their development have overcome the level of microbial mucus that does not have mental abilities;
- after studying the transmitted signals, the aliens decided to stay away from the earthlings.
There is a third option, which provides for a huge difference between alien intelligence and human intelligence. Seth Shostak, a researcher with the SETI Extraterrestrial Intelligence Project, suggests that an extraterrestrial signal could be sent by a being that is not made of protoplasm.
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For more than 50 years, the SETI project has been looking for signs of the presence of intelligent life outside the solar system. Since then, researchers have managed to intercept several interesting signals, but their extraterrestrial origin has not been proven. Shostak notes that anyone can imagine what aliens look like, taking into account the assessment of the achievements of their own civilization.
Extraterrestrial intelligence can be very advanced
Terrestrial civilization is one of the most significant achievements that determines the creation of artificial intelligence. In fact, several hundred years after the creation of radio, mankind is very close to the invention of artificial intelligence. Therefore, we can safely assume that any extraterrestrial civilization that can hypothetically come into contact with humanity has already successfully passed this phase of development.
According to the scientist's hypothesis, most of the civilizations in the Universe can be represented by synthetically created intelligence. Shostak admits that such a conclusion may disappoint modern science fiction fans. Literary works and films, describing the meeting of people with aliens, the latter are portrayed in the form of big-eyed gray creatures, deprived not only of clothes and hair, but also a sense of humor. According to the researcher, the creators of the first models of artificial intelligence - superintelligent gray men, thinking trees or other forms of life - retired after successful work.
The scientist clarifies that his hypothesis does not provide for the disappearance of alternative forms of life. It is likely that once artificial intelligence is created, the resulting product can be used to develop intelligent next-generation software. If events develop according to this scenario, in 50 years, an extraterrestrial civilization may have at its disposal artificial intelligence, which in its power surpasses not only its predecessors, but also the mind of all living beings of biological origin.
Stuart Clark, the author of the book "Search for Earth's Doubles", commenting on this hypothesis with a grain of sarcasm, notes that artificial intelligence in the process of development may well decide that the biological creatures that created it are no longer useful. In literary works of the genre of science fiction, such examples are enough. But in reality, this scenario for the development of technology is not the only possible one.
Scientists draw attention to the fact that artificial intelligence, which is a truly intelligent machine with a synthetic brain, in practice may turn out to be an unrealistic project. Clarke admits that he strongly doubts the reality of the development of technology in this direction. At the same time, modern researchers are looking for the activity of living beings, which are supposedly somewhat similar to people; initially, such search conditions define a certain framework.
In the search for extraterrestrial life, the SETI project uses rented radio telescopes at observatories located in California. Researchers, among other areas of activity, are engaged in observing stellar systems in which planets were previously discovered using ground-based or orbiting telescopes. It is assumed that an atmosphere and oceans may be present on exoplanets, which creates optimal conditions for the origin of life.
Artificial intelligence doesn't need atmosphere or water. Shostak reports that simplicity is the main problem in the search for extraterrestrial artificial intelligence. In fact, instead of the usual requests for people, artificial intelligence only needs powerful sources of energy. The scientist believes that extraterrestrial intelligence should be sought precisely in places of large accumulation of energy.
Elena Tarakanova