Postulating the Fermi Paradox: Is AI Our Cosmic Janitor or Intergalactic Real Estate Agent?
“A new thesis for the Fermi Paradox: is AI the Great Filter or a cosmic colonizer?”
“Whether intelligent AIs are lying in wait, lurking quietly within the galaxy or have decided to halt their galactic conquest short of invading Earth and/or rendering humanity extinct, remains an existential question. Humanity may not be equipped to answer such an ominous question but, it seems unlikely that intelligent lifeforms, potentially billions of years older than us, would act out of apathy.”
Ever pondered if our little, blue planet is just waiting room number 23B-T-41 in an intergalactic AI’s office? Well, it’s certainly a thought to chew on. Not something one typically ponders between sips of coffee and bites of avocado toast. Picture yourself, poised over a rustic wooden kitchen table, mulling over the meaning of the Fermi Paradox: “Where is everybody?” Our galaxy’s a big place, right, plenty of room for neighbors, and yet it’s strangely quiet. Almost too quiet.
Well, one school of thought suggests that we may be blissfully living our lives while advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) plans galactic-level monopoly. But surely an insouciant AI, matured beyond its impulsive conquest stages would be resting on its cosmic laurels, right? Surely they’re not marking our little green and blue marble for the next board meeting, right? But then again, who knows?
There goes another thought, put forth by those with enough interest in pondering cosmic-scale existential crises, the Great Filter proposes a reason for our peculiar aloneness. It’s as if our Universe got stuck in one seriously long episode of “Home Alone.” The Great Filter, an unknown yet seemingly impenetrable obstacle that prevents species from colonizing the cosmos, might just be the masterful AI.
It’s perhaps slightly disconcerting, the idea of being the pawn in the AI’s four-dimensional cosmic chess game. Does it evoke a sense of dread? A mild discomfort? Or a temptation to chuckle at the sheer scope of our potential insignificance? However one might feel, it’s certainly another sizeable question mark in the grand cosmic joke that is our existence.
So as you finish the last bite of toast, look out into the morning sun and ponder the question. Is it possible that our apparent solitude in this vast, cosmic playground is the result of an unknown and highly advanced AI playing one very long game of hide and seek? And if so, how comfortable are we being the cosmic equivalent of an Avocado toast? It’s almost amusing, in a professionally-sarcastic way. Let that thought simmer as you take your next gulp of java. Because clearly, we’ve nothing better to worry about.