Is there intelligent life existing beyond our planet? This longstanding question has intrigued humanity for centuries, but only in recent times have we started to make tangible efforts to uncover the truth. Initiatives like SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) employ radio telescopes to monitor potential signals from intelligent civilizations on Earth.

What outcomes can we anticipate if we succeed in these endeavors? Personally, I doubt we will encounter the stereotypical "little green men," a notion I once entertained during my presentation at the Breakthrough Listen conference, part of the SETI initiative.

Consider the possibility of other planets where life has emerged and evolved, potentially following a process akin to Darwinian evolution (although this is debatable). It remains improbable that advancements in intelligence and technology would align perfectly with Earth's timeline. If the origins of life on a distant planet are too ancient, our radio telescopes may not detect any signals, indicating that those life forms no longer exist. However, around stars older than our Sun, life could have emerged over a billion years ago.

Human technological advancement has only been underway for about a millennium at most. It may take another century or two before humans, composed of organic materials like carbon, either surpass or are surpassed by inorganic intelligence, notably artificial intelligence (AI). As computer processing capabilities grow exponentially, future AI may have access to far more data than today, potentially achieving intelligence levels that far exceed that of the average human. A possible starting point for this evolution could involve enhancing ourselves through genetic engineering and technological advancements, leading to the creation of cyborgs that meld organic and inorganic components. This could pave the way for a new form of intelligence. AI might even evolve at a pace much faster than Darwinian evolution, producing improved versions of itself within mere years instead of billions. Consequently, human-level intelligence may represent only a fleeting moment in the broader timeline of "human history" before machines dominate. If extraterrestrial intelligence evolved in a similar fashion, we might have missed their existence, as their lifespans could be significantly longer. Therefore, if we do encounter other forms of life, they might be electronic rather than biological, and not necessarily found on Earth.

This leads us to the Drake Equation, formulated in the 1960s to estimate the number of communicative civilizations in our galaxy. This equation incorporates various factors, including the number of planets and the duration civilizations can send signals, estimated to range from 1,000 to 100 million years. While organic civilizations may last thousands of years, their electronic counterparts could endure for billions. When we factor this into the equation, it becomes evident that there could be more civilizations than we initially believed, with many being human-made. We might need to redefine the term "civilization." Traditional definitions pertain to distinct societies, whereas extraterrestrials might represent a collective intelligence.

If SETI achieves its objectives, it may not capture any decipherable information. Instead, it could discover evidence of advanced technologies that exceed our understanding.

SETI primarily concentrates on the radio spectrum of electromagnetic waves. However, given our ignorance of what lies beyond, it is crucial to explore the entire bandwidth, including optical frequencies. Beyond simply listening for radio signals, we should also be vigilant for unnatural phenomena or activities, such as megastructures like Dyson spheres, which harness energy from stars, or artificial chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons—non-toxic substances containing carbon, chlorine, and fluorine—which cannot arise from natural processes. These could indicate either "terraforming" efforts or industrial pollution. It may also be worthwhile to investigate our own planet and universe. While we can rule out human visitors, there exist other possibilities. Advanced civilizations might utilize nanotechnology to transmit their intelligence into tiny machines, which could then explore other worlds, including the asteroid belt, deploying numerous probes in the process.

But if we were to receive radio communications, how could we determine what constitutes an intelligent sender? We are uncertain—consider the diverse motives (ideological, financial, and religious) that have historically driven human actions. They might be peaceful and inquisitive, or they could understand the practicality of existing in low-temperature environments far from stars, potentially hibernating for billions of years. Furthermore, expansion appears to be an expectation for many futurists contemplating the trajectory of civilization.

As the universe continues to evolve, intelligent species may achieve remarkable levels of intelligence. Consider our fate: the eventual collision of our galaxy with the Andromeda Galaxy, projected to occur in about a billion years, will lead to a slow amalgamation of debris from both galaxies and their smaller companions. Over time, remnants of our galaxy will dissipate, while distant celestial bodies recede from us.

However, what remains of humanity may endure for an extensive duration—possibly long enough for a civilization capable of harnessing immense energy to connect the entire galaxy. This would mark the culmination of an increasingly intricate life cycle. During this time, all atoms that once comprised stars and gas could transform into the universe's monumental structures. Some science fiction authors envision engineering on a stellar scale, crafting black holes and wormholes—bridges linking disparate points in spacetime, offering shortcuts for space travelers. Although such concepts currently exceed our technological capabilities, they do not violate any scientific principles. Post-human intelligence may also construct computers with superior processing power. Humanity has successfully modeled complex phenomena, such as weather patterns. Yet, the most advanced civilizations might replicate living systems—rationally—or even recreate Earth or entire universes.

How can we ascertain that we are not participants in an alien simulation crafted by advanced technology? Perhaps we serve as mere entertainment for a supreme being orchestrating such realities? In fact, if life can establish a high-tech civilization capable of generating computer programs, there may be artificial universes beyond our own, and we could find ourselves within one of them. While this notion may appear far-fetched, it aligns with our current understanding of physics and cosmology. Nonetheless, we should remain open to the possibility of uncharted complexities. It is conceivable that the laws we recognize and variables we discuss are merely "local" and differ in other parts of the universe, leading to astonishing revelations. Ultimately, our ordinary reality may encompass intricacies that surpass our comprehension. Some electronic "minds" might perceive reality entirely differently. We also lack the ability to predict or understand their motivations. Thus, we cannot definitively conclude whether SETI's current silence signifies the absence of advanced Earth civilizations or merely reflects their disinterest.

Could "General AI" resemble an alien invasion? An extraterrestrial entity could soon walk among us. Many experts estimate its arrival within the next two decades, while others suggest it may take a bit longer. Nonetheless, it is certain that it will emerge before the century concludes, and humans have no reason to assume it will be benevolent. Although I cannot precisely predict its nature, I am convinced it will differ from us in nearly every aspect, from physiology and morphology to psychology and sociology. Yet, we will swiftly recognize that it shares two fundamental characteristics with humanity: understanding and self-awareness. Although we might be reluctant to accept it, we will eventually realize that it possesses wisdom surpassing even our most brilliant minds.

No, this visitor will not arrive in a spacecraft from a distant planet. Instead, it will be developed right here on Earth, within well-funded laboratories at esteemed universities or multinational corporations. I refer to early general intelligence (AGI) as a representation of our cognitive capabilities extending beyond our own.

I understand that some scientists believe AGI is generations away, while others doubt its feasibility altogether. Nevertheless, researchers have conducted numerous surveys among AI experts over the past decade, and nearly half predict that AGI will materialize before 2060. With each passing year, the pace of advancements in AI technology has consistently outstripped industry expectations.

Recently, DeepMind introduced AlphaCode, an AI system capable of writing original software at a proficiency level exceeding 54% of human programmers. While it does not constitute AGI, its rapid development has taken the field by surprise, as few anticipated achieving such capabilities so swiftly.

Thus, we find ourselves at a juncture where AI technology is advancing more quickly than anticipated, with billions of dollars being directly invested in AGI research. In this context, it seems reasonable to consider that humans may soon create a form of intelligence that could rival our own.