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Look For AI, Not Aliens

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i'd-rather-a-good-reuben dept.

krou writes "Writing in Acta Astronautica, Seti astronomer Seth Shostak argues that we should be looking for 'sentient machines' rather than biological life. In an interview with the BBC, he said, 'If you look at the timescales for the development of technology, at some point you invent radio and then you go on the air and then we have a chance of finding you. But within a few hundred years of inventing radio — at least if we're any example — you invent thinking machines; we're probably going to do that in this century. So you've invented your successors and only for a few hundred years are you... a "biological" intelligence.' As a result, he says 'we could spend at least a few percent of our time... looking in the directions that are maybe not the most attractive in terms of biological intelligence but maybe where sentient machines are hanging out.'"

10 of 452 comments (clear)

  1. Oh great by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Let's just put up a giant flashing sign so Skynet can see us better. HEY, OVER HERE KILLER ROBOTS!

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Oh great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Let's just put up a giant flashing sign so Skynet can see us better. HEY, OVER HERE KILLER ROBOTS!

      On the one hand, the complete annihilation of humanity (and perhaps all biological life on this planet)
      On the other hand, the end of reality television shows.

      That's a tough one.

    2. Re:Oh great by oodaloop · · Score: 5, Funny

      You're anthropomorphizing robots again. They'll fucking kill you for that.

      --
      Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
    3. Re:Oh great by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I live in Alabama. You really want a challenge, you should try looking for intelligent life here.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  2. Also a better way to CYA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Rather than broadcast from home, broadcast via a proxy, so that if hostile intelligence finds your broadcast, they won't necessarily find you.

    1. Re:Also a better way to CYA by ThePangolino · · Score: 4, Funny

      Oh yeah!
      Let's put a relay on the Moon. If they come all the way thinking they'll find us all they'll see will be a big antena!

      --
      My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.
    2. Re:Also a better way to CYA by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 4, Funny

      So you're talking about a fork of Tor with a very specific purpose?

  3. Be on the lookout for... by pedropolis · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...non-reflective cuboids whose dimensions are in the precise ratio 1:4:9. They're often accompanied by a creepy atonal choir. Also, they might be full of stars. They were last seen in 2010 turning Jupiter into a mini-star.

    PS - hands off Europa

  4. Re:What's the difference... by Abstrackt · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... between looking for meat machines and metal machines?

    Meat machines have the potential to be delicious.

    --
    They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance. - Terry Pratchett
  5. Re:It gets sillier all the time. by drdrgivemethenews · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sentient: having an awareness that most other sentient beings are fucked up.