The Likely Nature of Extraterrestrial Life: Robots or AI?
Written on
Chapter 1: The Hypothesis of Robotic Aliens
Seth Shostak, the chief astronomer at SETI, posits that extraterrestrial beings are likely not biological entities but rather robots. The vast distances of space and the delicate nature of biological life make the chance of encountering beings akin to ourselves highly improbable. Instead, if we were to make contact with aliens, they would probably be synthetic entities with artificial intelligence rather than the stereotypical "little green men."
What could extraterrestrial life forms look like? According to U.S. filmmakers, they may have elongated bodies, large heads, and fewer than five fingers. Let’s explore the evolutionary possibilities across various celestial bodies. The environmental conditions on a planet or moon could significantly influence the development of life forms. For instance, if life were to arise on Saturn’s moon Titan, it might evolve the ability to fly due to Titan's dense atmosphere. Alternatively, if life developed on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, it would likely mirror Earth’s aquatic species due to Europa's icy surface concealing an ocean beneath.
Section 1.1: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life
The discussion thus far has revolved around primitive life forms rather than advanced civilizations. We can assert with confidence that no other civilizations exist within our Solar System, meaning any search for intelligent life must extend to distant regions of the Milky Way or even beyond into other galaxies.
The challenge lies in the immense distances involved. The closest star with a planetary system, Proxima Centauri, is 4.24 light-years away. While this may not seem far, it translates to approximately 40 trillion kilometers. The Parker Solar Probe, noted for being the fastest spacecraft ever built, travels at a staggering 532,000 km/h, making direct exploration of distant planetary systems unlikely.
However, it's reasonable to hypothesize that more advanced civilizations might have developed propulsion technologies that enable them to traverse cosmic distances in shorter spans of time. Nonetheless, it seems plausible to suggest that if they do explore the universe, they are likely to use robots for such endeavors. Thus, if we encounter evidence of alien civilizations, it is more likely to be in the form of robotic entities rather than biological life forms.
Section 1.2: The Case for Synthetic Life
On the “StarTalk” program, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Seth Shostak proposed that beings from other civilizations may be machines. This concept reflects a trajectory that humanity itself is following. Shostak argues that this is a natural evolution, as we increasingly delegate tasks to machines, particularly those that are dangerous or repetitive.
He noted, “In the not too distant future, many responsibilities may be handled autonomously by some form of artificial intelligence.” Presently, we have chatbots that assist with simple tasks, and the advent of autonomous vehicles is no longer a distant dream. The burgeoning field of space mining will likely depend on autonomous, self-replicating robots.
Section 1.3: The Superiority of Artificial Intelligence
Robots equipped with artificial intelligence appear to have a greater chance of survival than their biological counterparts. If anyone is destined to explore the cosmos and distant planetary systems, it seems likely that it will be robots.
Shostak stated, “The time between having the technology to signal their presence in space and the invention of artificial intelligence is only a few centuries—which is incredibly short on a cosmic scale.” He concluded that “most of the intelligence in the universe is synthetic.”
Chapter 2: Expert Insights on Extraterrestrial Intelligence
In this enlightening discussion, Seth Shostak explores the intricacies of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and shares insights on the likelihood of encountering robotic aliens.
In this video, Seth Shostak addresses the question of when we might find aliens, shedding light on the challenges and possibilities of extraterrestrial discovery.