Where is everybody? The universe should be teeming with intelligent life. High probability suggests extraterrestrial civilizations exist. Yet we see no evidence. No contact. No signals. This is the Fermi Paradox.
Two explanations emerge.
Explanation 1: Higher civilizations don't exist
The Great Filter theory suggests a wall exists somewhere between pre-life and Type III intelligence. Nearly all attempts at life hit this barrier and can't pass through. That stage—whatever it is—blocks advancement.
Explanation 2: They exist but we haven't heard from them
Five possibilities explain the silence:
- They visited Earth before we existed.
- The galaxy is colonized but we live in a remote area.
- Physical colonization is primitive thinking to advanced species.
- They're observing us like zoo animals.
- They're here but we're too primitive to perceive them.
The Kardashev Scale classifies civilizations by energy consumption:
- Type I harnesses planetary energy.
- Type II harnesses their host star.
- Type III harnesses their entire galaxy.
Human intelligence distinguishes itself not by speed but by cognitive modules:
- Complex linguistic representations.
- Long-term planning.
- Abstract reasoning.
These separate us from chimps.
Artificial superintelligence changes everything.
ASI opens the possibility of immortality for our species. It will also make such dramatic impact that it likely knocks humanity off the balance beam—toward transcendence or extinction.
The question becomes: when do we hit the tripwire, and which side do we land on?
Nick Bostrom describes three ASI system types:
- Oracle: Answers complex questions with accuracy. Google is a primitive oracle.
- Genie: Executes any high-level command given to it.
- Sovereign: Pursues broad, open-ended goals freely, making its own decisions about how to proceed.