AI may be to blame for our failure to make contact with alien civilisations

[LudwigPastorius]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has progressed at an astounding pace over the last few years. Some scientists are now looking towards the development of artificial superintelligence (ASI) — a form of AI that would not only surpass human intelligence but would not be bound by the learning speeds of humans.

But what if this milestone isn’t just a remarkable achievement? What if it also represents a formidable bottleneck in the development of all civilisations, one so challenging that it thwarts their long-term survival?

-snip-

The challenge with AI, and specifically ASI, lies in its autonomous, self-amplifying and improving nature. It possesses the potential to enhance its own capabilities at a speed that outpaces our own evolutionary timelines without AI.

The potential for something to go badly wrong is enormous, leading to the downfall of both biological and AI civilisations before they ever get the chance to become multiplanetary. For example, if nations increasingly rely on and cede power to autonomous AI systems that compete against each other, military capabilities could be used to kill and destroy on an unprecedented scale. This could potentially lead to the destruction of our entire civilisation, including the AI systems themselves.

more at: https://theconversation.com/ai-may-be-to-blame-for-our-failure-to-make-contact-with-alien-civilisations-227270
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

So far, we've been pretty lax about regulating AI research and implementation. The drive for profit is outstripping the need to step back and plan for control of a technology that could be an existential threat to our species.

[BadgerKid]

1. One day we may need to report to disintegration facilities.

The concept comes from the original Star Trek series' episode A Taste of Armageddon.

Spock finally deduces the truth: the war is fought with computers. Casualties are calculated, and the victims have twenty-four hours to report to a disintegration station so their deaths may be recorded. This tidy solution preserves the civilization, despite the cost in lives. Kirk is incredulous that people would simply walk into disintegration machines and never come out; Anan assures him that his people have a high sense of duty. And then Anan tells Kirk that when the Enterprise entered orbit, it became a legitimate target, and it has been destroyed by a tricobalt satellite explosion. Like the victims on the surface, Kirk's crew has twenty-four hours to report for disintegration. Kirk and his party are imprisoned to ensure compliance.

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/A_Taste_of_Armageddon_(episode)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Self-contradictory article (excerpt)

If AI is so self-amplifying and self-improving that it exterminates its creators or otherwise stymies them, then it would be smart enough to expand Borg-like in the galaxy. It does not seem to have done so.

So the absence of evidence is indicative of other things, like the dominance of physical impediments and the extreme time scales involved.

Speculation about civilizations being thwarted by AI is pure speculation. No evidence, not even indications. It's conceivable but entirely speculative at this point.